A renewed sense of hope

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." -Romans 5:5
It is hard to believe that this weekend is almost over. As I sit down to work on some homework and send out a few emails I have been ignoring, I am enjoying the chance to finally sit down before an inevitably busy evening. For whatever reason, I have felt like I have been in a funk this weekend that I can't seem to get out of...the only word that comes to mind to describe how I am feeling is: discouraged. I am a person that likes to make a lot of plans and I put a lot of pressure on myself to fit in as many things as I possibly can into a day...even if that means I have no time to myself. I think I have literally driven myself crazy this time. I am typically a very positive person, but for whatever reason, I have become a negative nancy for the past few days. I have let people down and disappointed myself, but rather than climbing out of the hole I have been digging, I reached over and grabbed a shovel to dig myself deeper. However, I do believe that every experience yields some sort of lesson. And here is the lesson I am currently trying to digest: In my life I am going to disappoint people. I am not always going to make people happy and not everyone is going to like me...but that is okay. Whose opinion really matters anyway? Well...God's sure does. I need to stop worrying about letting people down, because most of the time I am probably just overanalyzing...a word that is all-to-common to me. Lately, I have been disappointing myself and that isn't good. I am putting my hope in all the wrong things and haven't been at all hopeful in God's plan for me. That needs to change. I need to be hopeful that today is a gift from God and I have no idea where all it will take me. I need to not blow off today as another bad day, but rather be confident in the fact that the day is what I make it. Here is my advice for the day: stay hopeful. Do not give up on yourself or on God if you have a few rough days. Stop worrying so much about letting other people down and just do what you can to be yourself. Don't be afraid to say no and don't over-commit yourself because that is where you will run into problems. I pray that I can put my own advice into practice....Everything is going to be alright :) 

Be a more beautiful you

          Three words: positive self image. These three words pose one of the most difficult challenges I have come to know in my 20 years. Oftentimes it seems like the world is constantly telling us that we aren't good enough; not skinny enough, not fashionable enough, not smart enough...all of these things could not be more false. Every single human being is beautiful in their own way because we are all made in God's image. What are some ways we can let this beauty shine through us? Here are some tips:
1) Do something that makes you happy- Try something new! A couple of years ago, I created a bucket list of things I want to do in my lifetime. I included everything from going skydiving to learning how to knit...I set short term and long term goals for myself. Each time I try something new, I get such a feeling of accomplishment. Or, if you aren't quite as adventurous, stick to the things you love! 
2) Do something nice for another person- Even if it is as small as a kind note, do something nice for another person every single day. Your beautiful personality will radiate when you do a good deed without the expectation of anything in return. 
3) Be good to your body- Go get some exercise! Even if it is a small amount, I promise that you will feel great about yourself...get those endorphins pumping! Eat healthy (yes, I need to practice what i preach!) and make sure you get plenty of sleep.
           These are just a few ways to be a more beautiful you. Do the things that make you happy, be good to your body and make sure you do something nice for other people on a daily basis. The beauty that you already have will shine and not only will you feel better, but everyone else will see how incredible you truly are. Beauty is more than just skin deep; challenge yourself to do things that will make you feel beautiful on the inside and on the outside. 

Lean on those you love

Last night was probably one of the best nights I have had in a long time. Some of my best friends from high school got together to cook dinner and watch a movie. Best Saturday night ever. We started off the evening by making a trip to Hyvee to get some ingredients. Angel hair pasta, Alfredo sauce, rolls, salad, sparkling grape juice....check! We ended up making wayyyy too much pasta (thanks to the boys....and no you don't need to use the entire box for 5 people...noodles expand), and spent a majority of the night just talking and catching up...until we popped Mulan into the DVD player! I absolutely love my friends. Even though we all live in different places, it seems like no time has passed when we get back together. I love making new friends, but there is just something about those friends that you have grown up with that you can't find anywhere else. They knew me in my awkward stages (which I feel like lasted way too long). They knew me when I got my first bad hair cut. They knew me when my mom passed away. They knew me when I was a mathlete (yes..embarrassing). They knew me when I had my first heart break. Every single person you meet is supposed to be in your life for some reason. Whether it is temporary or life-long, get to know the people that surround you. One of my favorite quotes by Nicholas Spark says, "People come, people go – they’ll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past." This goes to show that some people will be in and out of your life quickly, but I want to add on to this quote. Some characters (aka people you meet in your life) will hop from one book to the next...some will be gone when you read the last page, but others will stay with you for forever. Life advice: Lean on those around you--the people that knew you at your worst and at your best. Embrace relationships with the people that come into your life, but be willing to accept that not all people you meet will be in your life forever. 

Today is a new day

Day one of the spring semester and I don't think it could be more cold outside. In the sleeping rooms I heard a few alarms going off, and I knew that mine was going to go off soon. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the obnoxious ringtone I chose went off and I couldn't ignore it. It was inevitable...time to get up for the day. I put on my workout clothes and braved the arctic tundra as I made my way to the gym. Today I started training for a half marathon; it is going to be a 12 week process that is going to take every ounce of motivation I have. Next on the agenda was class...and then work....first day back in the routine always proves to be a challenge! However, now that I am sitting down and catching up on an episode of Jersey Shore, I realize how great it feels to get back in a routine. My excitement for this semester and the changes I plan on making has put me in a wonderful mood and I'm ready...ready to see what each new day will bring. Every single day is a new opportunity to do something great. Being motivated and productive is the best feeling ever and I can tell that this year is already off to a great start. I finally feel settled in and content; I love the girls that I live with, I adore my job, I enjoy my major, I love the activities I'm involved in...how could this year not be great?! Life advise: do the things you love doing and then every day will be exciting. Being in a routine is good, but don't be afraid to mix it up every once in a while and make things interesting. Brave that arctic tundra, stay motivated and get excited for what each new day will bring! 

Happily ever after

Hopeful. This is the word that I said on my profile described me more than any other word I have come to know in the English language. It is my blessing...but it sometimes feels like a curse. I believe that life should be and could be full of fairy tale endings (maybe I've watched a few too many Disney movies). That being said, I get thoroughly disappointed when things don't go the way I think that they should. I like to make up endings of happily ever after in my head for pretty much every situation that I am in, but not everything ends like a fairy tale. I truly believe that every experience we have shapes us into the person that we are today. The lessons I have learned in my life were not always easy, and I sometimes had some not so great experiences in order to get to where I am today. But rest assured; God has the pen and is writing each of our own fairy tales. We will all experience conflict and none of us know how our story is going to end, but that is the beauty of it. We aren't the authors. God is. God wants us to have those happy endings that are full of love and joy, and I believe that if we embrace the tough situations we encounter and learn from them, then we will achieve the perfect conclusion to our stories. Life advice: enjoy each of the chapters of your life and don't get too upset when they don't end the way that you want them to. Each individual chapter may not have the ending you are hoping for, but I can assure that you will be happy with the conclusion of the entire book. Take one day at a time, and I promise that you will eventually have that happily ever after that you are wanting...and it will be a better ending than you ever could have imagined!

Moving out and moving on

Procrastination seems to be the theme of the day for me as I am preparing to head back to K-State. Laundry is still tumbling in the dryer and I am doing everything I possibly can...to NOT pack. I have piles stacked all over my room and a list of things I wrote down that I will most likely still end up forgetting; phone charger, toothbrush, shampoo. Check. Check. Annnnnd check. Why did I decide to wait until the last day to get all of my stuff together? Denial that my winter break is almost over? The thought that organizing all my things wouldn't take all that long? Probably a little of both. However, this packing issue I seem to be having has been an ongoing problem with me. I am the stereotypical girl; I overpack and bring things back that I don't need because there is a one-in-a-million chance that THIS time I will need it. Packing is hard for me. Why is it such a difficult task? The answer is simple, really. I struggle with moving out and moving on. I get used to my daily routines and the places where I am located. Transitions from one place to another can prove to be a challenge because change is something that I am not used to. I have lived in the same neighborhood for 14 years. I have had the same core group of friends since I was in elementary school. I have had the same job (that I still continue to work at on breaks) for the past 4 years. Creature of habit? I'm thinking so. It is 100% true that time helps with change, but I am probably one of the most impatient people you will ever meet. Change is inevitable. In my future I will change friends, experience break-ups, move, work at different jobs...all of these things are going to throw me off for a little while. Rather than fearing change and trying to work against it however, I need to accept that changes will occur in my life. Advice for the day: change isn't a bad thing so stop trying to work your way around it! Pack up those bags, get pumped up for the day and embrace those inevitable changes.

You're never fully dressed without a smile

Do you have that one song that you seem to listen to on repeat? You know what I'm talking about. That song that you always seem to play when you wake up and get ready or the one you play whenever you find yourself in a bad mood. It's that go-to song that is full of upbeat rhythm, positive lyrics and an overall good message. My song is "Dog Days are Over" by Florence + The Machine. For the past few months I have played that song over and over again, and it seems like no matter what mood I am in, that song will get my day started right. I don't think I know a single person that doesn't love some form of music; it gets you pumped up, it relaxes you, you can relate to it and there is a song guaranteed to put a smile on your face no matter what...And that right there is the point of my blog post today. Smiling. Everyone has heard the quotes, "A smile is a curve that sets everything straight" and "It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three muscles to frown," and as much as we may look past these, I challenge you to think about them. One of the biggest things I have learned in my life is the importance of a smile. It makes others feel good, it gives off positive vibes, it puts people at ease and it also makes YOU feel good. Laughing is contagious, but so is smiling. Think about it. Have you ever just smiled at someone who seemed upset or sad? Did they smile back? I'm going to hope that your answer to this question is a yes..if your answer was a no, I hope those people read this! I believe a smile to be one of the most beautiful things a person can have. Yes, you may have on an awesome new shirt or a pair of great shoes, but those things are negligible unless you finish the look with a smile. So with that being said, here is my advice for the day: Smile. Do the things that make you smile on a regular basis. Listen to upbeat music, dance around your room, sing at the top of your lungs, read a good book, eat a bowl of ice cream (I would do this right now if it wasn't 8:00 in the morning), go for a run, pray, play a game with your family, watch movies with your friends, go on an adventure. Do the things that draw the edges of your mouth up...up into a smile that will catch on like wildfire. This is one small thing you can do to make a huge difference in your life on a daily basis and in the lives of everyone else you encounter. Buddy the Elf had a line in the movie where he said, "I like smiling. Smiling's my favorite."---Well Buddy, I couldn't agree with you more.