10 years ago
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
thankful thursday.
This past week has been a little "rough" around the edges. I've had some great moments, some not so good moments, and a lot of moments smack dab in the middle. Sometimes I realize that I get so caught up in the negative things in my life that I pass up the happy moments so I've decided to make an effort to acknowledge the good things in life. :)
1. My friends who support me through thick and thin, stay up late to chat, grab coffee (or bubble tea) just for fun, call just to say hi, etc.
2. A car. It is frigid out there and it would suck if I had to get up super early to walk to class through the snow and blistery winds.
3. The opportunity to pursue my dreams of education. I'm excited for the chance to work with EI students tomorrow and eventually work one-on-one with a friend to develop better communication devices for students requiring Special Education services.
4. Professors who encourage me and support me. I'm lucky that they give me my space but also take a personal interest in my well being. I knew I loved this place for a reason...
5. My fish (don't laugh!) that give me the entertainment of fighting with each other as well as calming me down. Have you ever watched a fish tank? Their addicting. Just sayin'...
Most of all, I'd like to end with an excerpt of a song by Travis Tritt:
And it's a great day to be alive!
I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes.
There's some hard times in the neighborhood,
But why can't every day be just this good?
*Concept of Thankful Thursdays is borrowed from this blog.
1. My friends who support me through thick and thin, stay up late to chat, grab coffee (or bubble tea) just for fun, call just to say hi, etc.
2. A car. It is frigid out there and it would suck if I had to get up super early to walk to class through the snow and blistery winds.
3. The opportunity to pursue my dreams of education. I'm excited for the chance to work with EI students tomorrow and eventually work one-on-one with a friend to develop better communication devices for students requiring Special Education services.
4. Professors who encourage me and support me. I'm lucky that they give me my space but also take a personal interest in my well being. I knew I loved this place for a reason...
5. My fish (don't laugh!) that give me the entertainment of fighting with each other as well as calming me down. Have you ever watched a fish tank? Their addicting. Just sayin'...
Most of all, I'd like to end with an excerpt of a song by Travis Tritt:
And it's a great day to be alive!
I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes.
There's some hard times in the neighborhood,
But why can't every day be just this good?
*Concept of Thankful Thursdays is borrowed from this blog.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
at a glance.
How often do we judge things at a glance? "This movie is going to be so boring, look at the case!" or "That is going to taste so disgusting -- who would drink something like that?" These two sentences come to mind because if I hadn't taken a chance on that movie or that drink, I wouldn't have discovered two of my favorite things. But those judgements go further than inanimate objects.
How many times have you caught yourself thinking things like, "She hangs out with theeem?" or "Can you believe she did thaaat?" For some reason, we tend to think we know best; not only for ourselves but for our friends, family, and any stranger walking by on the street. We make judgements on others actions without ever learning the motive (not that the motive is always right...). It's human nature. I find myself guilty of this often. Too often if you ask me, but its something to work on.
Last semester, I had a class with someone I know has been openly criticized across campus. I have sat amongst friends when the name came up. But throughout the class, I learned a lot about them. They made some bad decisions, yes; but from those bad decisions, came some very good decisions. The person has learned and grown a lot as a person and I believe it is very admirable.
Okay, now I'm really gonna stretch this to a place that is kind of ridiculous, but have you guys ever watched Teen Mom on MTV? Its the only show I watch on there and I have come to really admire Catelynn and Tyler. They got pregnant as juniors in high school and made the tough decision to give the child up for adoption. Their parents don't think it was the best decision but they made it anyways. Tyler's dad has been in and out of prison his whole life and Catelynn knew the baby couldn't be raised in those circumstances. Many would say they should never have been in the situation to begin with, but we all make questionable decisions. Instead, they persevered and did what was best for the child. They weren't the product of their upbringing I'm sure many of their classmates expected them to be, instead they were mature beyond their years in making the decision they did.
Sometimes it is so easy to see the negative in all the situations. If most of us look back and see what we talk about all the time it's how bad the dining hall food is, how mean so-and-so is, how crappy the weather is. What if we took the time to look for the positive in every situation? What would that do to our attitudes in life and affect our friendships with everyone around us?
Life is so much more than our "at a glance" perceptions.
How many times have you caught yourself thinking things like, "She hangs out with theeem?" or "Can you believe she did thaaat?" For some reason, we tend to think we know best; not only for ourselves but for our friends, family, and any stranger walking by on the street. We make judgements on others actions without ever learning the motive (not that the motive is always right...). It's human nature. I find myself guilty of this often. Too often if you ask me, but its something to work on.
Last semester, I had a class with someone I know has been openly criticized across campus. I have sat amongst friends when the name came up. But throughout the class, I learned a lot about them. They made some bad decisions, yes; but from those bad decisions, came some very good decisions. The person has learned and grown a lot as a person and I believe it is very admirable.
Okay, now I'm really gonna stretch this to a place that is kind of ridiculous, but have you guys ever watched Teen Mom on MTV? Its the only show I watch on there and I have come to really admire Catelynn and Tyler. They got pregnant as juniors in high school and made the tough decision to give the child up for adoption. Their parents don't think it was the best decision but they made it anyways. Tyler's dad has been in and out of prison his whole life and Catelynn knew the baby couldn't be raised in those circumstances. Many would say they should never have been in the situation to begin with, but we all make questionable decisions. Instead, they persevered and did what was best for the child. They weren't the product of their upbringing I'm sure many of their classmates expected them to be, instead they were mature beyond their years in making the decision they did.
Sometimes it is so easy to see the negative in all the situations. If most of us look back and see what we talk about all the time it's how bad the dining hall food is, how mean so-and-so is, how crappy the weather is. What if we took the time to look for the positive in every situation? What would that do to our attitudes in life and affect our friendships with everyone around us?
Life is so much more than our "at a glance" perceptions.
Monday, January 18, 2010
rest in peace.
i will never understand.
why now?
why so soon?
why so young?
why them?
there are so many things rushing through my head.
should've gotten to know her.
should've talked to her more often.
should've written her a thank you.
should've. should've. should've.
wish death wasn't a fact of life. reality is: it really isn't. it's just the transition to eternal paradise.
our brother and sister in Christ have gone because they were ready. they were living life. he was doing what he loved and she was out enjoying herself, i'm sure. it's all in God's timing and whether i like it or not, he's got it all figured out. i must rest easy tonight knowing that God has not abandoned his children of Hope but only pulled us closer to him. He is the Shepard of his sheep.
why now?
why so soon?
why so young?
why them?
there are so many things rushing through my head.
should've gotten to know her.
should've talked to her more often.
should've written her a thank you.
should've. should've. should've.
wish death wasn't a fact of life. reality is: it really isn't. it's just the transition to eternal paradise.
our brother and sister in Christ have gone because they were ready. they were living life. he was doing what he loved and she was out enjoying herself, i'm sure. it's all in God's timing and whether i like it or not, he's got it all figured out. i must rest easy tonight knowing that God has not abandoned his children of Hope but only pulled us closer to him. He is the Shepard of his sheep.
Friday, January 1, 2010
the future.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. - Psalm 5:3
there is something great about the new year: the mystery of the future, the hope of what is to come. yet i still couldn't bring myself to get moving. the reality is, i'm probably just suffering from depression. yes, 2010 may hold great memories and progress, but it is a time that dad will never know. dad was never a part of this decade, this year. every change in my life since february 27, 2009 until the day i die is going to bring those feelings though, so i must learn to manage these emotions now.
the new year doesn't have to be depressing. there is hope of what is to come. tomorrow is another day. monday is a new week. february will be a new month. i love that. i love being able to look towards the future. i think it is a great gift God has given us. God's time is undefined, yet he has given us a human measurement and that sense of hope. and that is why i'm starting today. because yesterday wasn't great, but today is much more uplifting. it's never too late to start a resolution because every day is a new day. everyday when i wake up, i need to thank God for the day i have been blessed with and lay my concerns and expectations out there. as a human, i expect things -- even if they aren't fair. God is all knowing, omnipotent, and able to handle anything i throw at Him.
so i end with my favorite quote from today's (or should i say "yesterday's") devotional: "Without him, our lives stretch out to a hopeless end. With him we have the endless hope of a heavenly tomorrow."
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