Sunday, January 15, 2017

let the light in

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Do you ever slow down and really appreciate the beauty of the little things? If ever there was a time I needed to do this, it would be now. This week marked the beginning of my final semester of college ever(!), and it was kind of intense.


Sometimes life seems to just go, go, go 
at a hectic yet monotonous pace.


 Just finished your homework? There's another assignment due. 
Just completed work? 8 hours til the next day's round. 


It can all be a bit much. 



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Although I can't change life's pace, I discovered that I can change my own. I can be more deliberate. I can change the way I let life get to me. I can pray for a healthy mindset and heavenly perspective, because at the end of the day, this world ain't my home, yo. And I'm slowly trying to take time to be conscious of, and truly thankful for, all the little details of life.


There's just so many things. I could go on. Maybe I should. I think I need to take stock of these things more. It's a part of that gratitude-deep, quiet life that I'm after:
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters." 
~ Psalm 23:2

He makes me. I can't do it alone. 

On the weekends and in every moment of my life, I want to have that calm, all-is-well attitude, with a smile on my face and joy inside my heart, because I AM ALIVE. And so are you. Every day we are here, Christ has a purpose for us. And I think that's just the bomb.

+ What about you? Fill up the comments with as many ludicrously little things to be thankful about as possible! I'm talking eyelashes, people. Commas. Rocks. Lady bugs. LEGGO   

14 comments:

  1. This was so relatable to read, and so inspirational. I love these posts that just make me sit back and think 'wow, we have some thoughtful people on the blogosphere'. Truly beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, I so appreciate that! I'm glad you liked it. :) <3

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  2. Yo! I really enjoyed this post. I was actually just kind of reflecting upon how I need to be more attentive on the small privileges God gives to us. I think one of the things I need to work more on is writing with a pen (or pencil) and paper. Because it takes more time to do so and I think sometimes we just need to take more time in general. You know? Also, photography is on my list too. But not in the "I'm going to set out to take this person's photo" type photography. The I'm going to grab my camera and just notice the beauty, the angles, the scenery, the subjects, around me type of photography. Also on my list are; good health, the ability to smell the ocean, apples, shampoo and etc., pets to snuggle with, being single and able to focus on God more but also daydream about the time when I am with my husband if it be God's will that is, a child's laugh and crinkled eyes, baked goods, unexpected but good surprises, people who take a chance on you and believe in you. There's a lot more, but I'll stop there.

    Thanks for inspiring me to be still and reflect upon how God is good and the good things in my life.

    Just so you know, you're also on my list. <3

    Miss you!
    -- Soph

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    1. I totally agree about writing with pen and paper! I'm no good at it when it comes to novel writing, but at the end of the day, unwinding with some old fashioned writing utensils is the bomb. Journaling seriously relaxes me! :) GAH everything you listed is perfect: apples, baked goods, the smell of the ocean....yes please! You are on my list too, girly. Never stop seeing the world the way you do! Love and miss ya! <3

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  3. Ah yes, God's peace is a wonderful thing. When I looked up the definition of peace (in the 1828 dictionary no less), I was amazed to find that it was just what I needed (freedom from any form of anxiety or evil ||Evil: Anything that disturbs your happiness||, a quietness of the mind). And now for my list (excuse the monster comment).

    ||long drives with your BFF
    + giant blankets in the winter
    + dusty pink sunsets
    + pure gold sunsets
    + literally any kind of sunset
    + when your toes are cold and put then on top of a heater
    + dandelion fluff floating through the air
    + Forget-Me-Nots popping up everywhere in the Spring
    + handwritten letters
    + adorable mugs
    + laying on the lawn in Summer and doing *nothing*
    + the first snowfall
    + the last snowfall
    + every snowfall in between because SNOW IS MAGICAL
    + fireworks against an ink black sky
    + a crescent moon
    + long walks in a forest, just talking to God
    + candles
    + twinkle lights
    + that store bought apple cider
    + mastering a piano song
    + knowing exactly what to say in the next chapter
    + that feeling you get when you love someone so much that you just want to hug them and never let go
    + KITTENS
    + adorable rabbits that give you bunny kisses
    + being curled up with your pet on a cold day under a big blanket
    + old favorite TV shows
    + those sudden rushes of thankfulness you get when you see your family all together

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    1. I LOVE THE MONSTER COMMENT <3 It rocks!

      That is the most epic definition of peace I've ever heard. I make myself anxious more times than I care to admit, but God is light and God is peace. I have to remember that all the time!

      YOUR LIST. <3 YOUR LIST!!!! Candles and twinkle lights and walking in the forest with God are some of my absolute favorite things. And oh my goodness, that last one - family is the best. This list was the best. Loved it! Thank you so much for this glorious comment!! <3

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  4. this was like a breath of fresh air. such an uplifting, pleasant look at how we should be living life, especially as students. it's so easy to get caught up in the rush and stress of things, but like you said, we can shift our own pace. just taking things a little slower, so you can enjoy them, can make life so much more interesting and beneficial, both as believers and as humans.

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    1. I love the way you phrased this! :) It is hard to do, because like you said, we're constantly being bombarded with the stresses of life and what we have to do next. But I'm done living for the weekend, I want to see beauty in the weekdays, too. :D Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! :)

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  5. I LIKE REALLY LOVE YOUR BLOG LIKE WHAT. it's so positive and happy and all the good vibes <3

    WOW YES "He makes me. I can't do it alone." <---- THAT PHRASE IS GOLD. How true is that. I've been thinking about that a lot more recently, and it's so mind blowing how when God is our true source of joy and happiness life is SO FREAKING GOOD. and your list is so beautiful it makes my heart singgg <3

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    1. You are so sweet!! Thank you so much!! Most days it's a struggle to seek the good, but I'M TRYING. #AForEffort

      Man, I love Psalm 23! It's everything about peace and calm and rivers and just trusting God. He is our true sense of joy in this life, you are so right! :D Thanks for the encouragement!

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  6. I'll be praying for you this semester! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL IT!!!!! :D

    Seriously you are just the most encouraging human wow.

    Let's see. I am thankful for balloons and sweaters and commas and snail mail. <3

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    1. Aw thank you! I appreciate it! 13 WEEKS TO GO TIL I GRADUATE! *throws confetti all over the blog*

      GAH you are so kind. All of y'all in the blogger community encourage me on a daily basis...seriously so inspired by everything everyone writes!

      Balloons and snail mail and sweaters and commas = everything. Such beautiful things to be thankful for!

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  7. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE. I love this and needed it soooooOOOOoooo much, oh my.
    thankful for the way the light shines in my room in the afternoon, the quiet of sundays, solitude and community, and the fact that I have enough clothes to amount to a big pile of unwashed laundry that I don't want to deal with.
    ps BROO just found out from your burning youth bio that you want to be a JOURNALIST AND I WANT TO GO INTO JOURNALISM TOO. AH. WOW. freaking out cause no one wants to be a journalist LOLZ.

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    1. I'm glad you liked it! Thank you so much! :-) Goodness, that list was glorious. Light and Sundays and solitude = yes please! AND OMW THAT'S AWESOME! *fist bump* Definitely write for your college newspaper and as many other publications as you can!! It helps to get clips ahead of time. I love that you want to go into journalism as well! RADICAL <3 You will do great!!

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Go with grace.