World Kindness Day: Day One to a Life of Kindness

World Kindness Day is one of my favorite days of the year. It openly shares and celebrates about the importance of giving beyond yourself to others. Most of society tells you that you are the most important person and that you do not have to care about others beyond you. Yet we have national holidays like today. Kindness day. 

This day is such a beautiful reminder to me that there is goodness in the world and that kindness does exist. It reminds me that every single day is a chance to show kindness to others. That it can be so simple to show that kindness to others. You never truly know what one small act of kindness could mean to someone. You never know how a series of kind acts towards someone could change your life. And even more than that, you will never know how living out everyday acts of kindness will change you. 

When I first started celebrating World Kindness Day, I thought that it always had to be me spending money in some way. I did not see all the other beautiful ways to show everyday kindness. So, here are some of my favorite ideas of how you can choose to show some small acts of kindness every single day. 

1. Send a text to a friend or family member that you have not seen in a while. This literally can be as simple as saying "Hey, just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you." I really thought this was just too easy, but when I actually tried it I ended up having some great conversations with friends that I had not talked to in years. And I loved it. I loved hearing how those friends were doing and catching up with them. 

2. Choose to smile at someone in the grocery market or Starbucks line instead of avoiding eye contact and looking away. I know that this can be uncomfortable and can feel awkward. But sometimes people just need to split moment of feeling seen. Like they are worthy of being noticed.

3. Hold the door for someone or hold the elevator for someone. Even if it is inconvenient for you, it can make someone else's day just a little bit easier. And life is hard enough that making someone else's life a little easier can truly make a difference. 

4. Take a moment to compliment someone. Do not make this fake, but when you think "Oh, they are a really talented artist", or "Wow, I really like her jacket" maybe take a breathe more to tell them. When I have received random compliments from other people it has always made my days better, and sometimes it has changed my attitude within a day. 

5. Treat someone to a coffee or a meal. Yes, I know that this includes money. Here is how I do it. When I get gift cards from people as gifts, I put that money aside so that I can treat others with it. That way I am not spending outside of my personal finances, but can still bless people in small ways. 

Kindness does not have to be hard or complicated. But it has to be intentional. You have to choose daily to look at life beyond yourself and make people a priority in your life. It may seem small and insignificant, but I can promise you that it will not be small and insignificant for you and your heart. Choosing daily kindness will change your heart and the way you see the world. You will find joy in a way you never imagined.

Happy World Kindness Day, and welcome to daily kindness. 

And as a bonus, here are 100 ways to be kind. 

1. Volunteer during a community clean-up day.
2. Be a blood donor.
3. Be a good, sincere, and patient listener.
4. Donate the clothes and shoes you never wear knowing someone will appreciate them. 
5. Visit or volunteer at a local homeless shelter and try to increase just one person’s self-worth.
6. Sign up to make well-check calls at a senior center – then maybe visit those people who have no one to look in on them.
7. Give your kids your undivided attention.
8. Be kind to all animals.
9. Donate dog or cat food to the local pet shelter – and maybe even take along some homemade cookies for shelter volunteers.
10. Take donuts and coffee to a local hospice for the angels who work there.
11. Rescue the baby spider from the tub before turning on the water.
12. Leave a tip for housekeeping. 
13. Let others cut in front of you in traffic.
14. Recycle plastics, bottles, and paper.
15. Help clean up or do dishes after a private party.
16. Say thank you to people who rarely get thanked – the bathroom attendant, the policeman directing traffic, the toll booth attendant.
17. Offer food and shelter to feral pets – or call a local rescue to save them.
18. Volunteer at the pound to give the caged creatures some love and attention.
19. Visit people who get no visitors at long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and mental health facilities.
20. Volunteer at an office on aging, an inner-city church, or shelters for the homeless, to drive people to the doctor or the store.
21. Every day, think about all the ways in which you are luckier than others.
22. Be a happy person; be someone people want to be around.
23. Teach your children to be kind to those who are less fortunate — one birthday gift for you, one to donate.
24. Congratulate relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers when they do something courageous or difficult.
25. Say “I love you” or “I miss you” to people you love or miss.
26. Live your life the way you would want to be remembered.
27. Buy less bottled water, Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware. Use a refillable water bottle and dinnerware that can be re-used.
28. If you must buy something in plastic or excessive packaging, recycle it.
29. Take reusable bags to the grocery store, so you don’t have to decide between paper or plastic.
30. When at the beach or out in nature anywhere, leave no footprint. Pick up trash even if it’s not yours.
31. Before throwing away good food, put it in the freezer for later. You’ll be surprised at how many things are freezable, better yet, offer your extras to a friend or neighbor.
32. Park your car away from sidewalks and other places that might impede pedestrians.
33. If you cycle, use bike lanes when available; if not, give pedestrians the right-of-way on sidewalks.
34. Shop locally; support your local merchants.
35. Before taking the last piece of anything, ask if anyone else wants it.
36. Clean up your mess, so others don’t have to.
37. Think before saying things that others may find hateful or mean.
38. Never make fun of anyone for anything.
39. Be tolerant of all religious beliefs and colors of skin.
40. Always remember you don’t know all the details surrounding an action someone else is taking.
41. There are times when you must mind your own business.
42. Carry non-perishable snacks in your car that you can give to homeless people holding “I’m hungry” signs on street corners.
43. Be a generous tipper – and not just at restaurants. That extra dollar means little to you but a lot to others.
44. Listen to the opinions of others before making a judgment.
45. Help a friend put together a resume to find a job.
46. Share your computer knowledge with those who have challenges understanding technology.
47. Push grocery carts back to store instead of leaving them in the middle of the parking lot.
48. Acknowledge people no one else does — the mentally challenged grocery bagger, the 500-pound man in a motorized cart, the person next to you on the bus.
49. Talk to the cleaning staff at work. They see you; you should see them.
50. Be tolerant of screaming children on airplanes – be tolerant of children in general.
51. Let the person with an armful of groceries go in front of you in line.
52. When the light turns green, give the car ahead of you some time, before honking.
53. Answer texts and emails as soon as possible.
54. Allow oncoming vehicles access to the road ahead of you.
55. Let pedestrians and bicyclists go ahead of you.
56. Never, ever litter – and that includes throwing cigarette butts and other small items out a car window.
57. Offer to lend a hand if someone is struggling with a piece of luggage or any large item.
58. If you’re tall, reach up to help someone; if you’re flexible, bend down to help someone.
59. Offer to help a neighbor with yard work.
60. Let children or short people stand in front of you at entertainment events.
61. Deliver meals on wheels – and add a little surprise of your own if and when you are able.
62. Help people with dementia during painting or other classes at a nursing home; listen to what they are saying and talk to them.
63. Be a courteous highway driver; move over for faster cars and maintain a clear distance, so you aren’t always riding the brake.
64. Take your dog for a walk every day and let him explore and smell the world.
65. Volunteer to foster a kitten born to a feral mother cat. Foster or train a future support dog.
66. Cut down on meat consumption; there are plenty of ways to get protein without eating meat.
67. Abide by fishing regulations, catch only in season and only within the limit.
68. Ask yourself if you want to be the kind of person who kills animals for sport.
69. Try not to take out your frustrations on the person who answers the phone when you make a complaint call. Be aware that the person on the phone is just a conduit to a person who has the power to affect change.
70. Offer to carry a heavy package to the car for someone who could use the help.
71. Give directions to someone who is lost.
72. Find something that’s not yours? Turn it in.
73. Make sure your driver’s license says you are an organ donor. If not, register here with Recyclelife.org.
74. When someone is kind enough to perform a task, be grateful instead of redoing it your way.
75. Offer your assistance to someone in a wheelchair.
76. Pick up after your dog.
77. Run up a flight of stairs to get something for someone who is unable to do so.
78. Volunteer to tutor kids who need help in areas that you’re strong in.
79. Give the books you have already read to the library, a nursing home or the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
80. Offer to pick up your friend’s tab at a restaurant.
81. Call your mom, your dad or your grandparents just to say hi.
82. Help build a home for Habitat for Humanity.
83. Play a game with the neighborhood kids.
84. When you mow your lawn, mow the elderly neighbor’s too.
85. Give away seedlings and cuttings from your yard. Take bouquets of flowers to shut-in neighbors.
86. Before complaining about something, try to find a solution. Be a problem solver.
87. Offer to babysit the children of your friends who are overwhelmed or single parents.
88. Watch your neighbor’s dog or keep an eye on their house when they are away.
89. Maintain civility on the Internet.
90. Take a meal to a friend who just lost a loved one (pets count, too).
91. Make someone laugh.
92. Offer cold drinks to people working outside in the heat, and hot drinks to those working outside in the cold.
93. Give away the stuffed animals you win at an amusement park or fair or game room to the wide-eyed children looking on.
94. Buy something out of a vending machine and leave it there.
95. Give up your seat on a bus or subway.
96. Compliment a stranger.
97. Put coins in an expired parking meter next to you.
98. Do a chore without being asked.
99. Leave a kind note – with a gift card if you can afford it – for your mailman and trash collector.
100. Talk to the person who appears lonely at any gathering.

This list is credited from https://www.bestyoubestme.org/inspiration/100-ways-to-be-kind/

2021: Life Lessons and Relocations - What I Have Learned in the Last Year (or more)

Well, after not being on here for two years (almost three), I think that it is time that I start taking my writing seriously again. I want to share some things that I am learning and hopefully spread some light, some hope, a little love, and maybe a bit of joy. 

I have always wanted to write, to speak, to share, to give. But honestly, even when I have dabbled, I never felt like I was good enough. Like I did not know enough to write or speak. But, I never will. I can share what I know right now and put that out into the world to others. The hope is to learn along the way from those older and wiser than me, and share what I know to those coming up after me. 

Going back on here and reading prior posts, it kind of makes me want to delete it all. But those are my words from once upon a time. It shows me where I have grown and it makes me proud that I am not the same today as the person I once was. Looking back makes me excited for where I one day will be. 

So, here I am. 25 living in Tennessee with my best friend. Working at a Christian academy part as an assistant and part as an aftercare teacher. Picking up DJ gigs when I go back to visit Florida. Trying to figure out where the heck I am going with my life. Trying to learn along the way and piece together whatever comes next in my life.

Some things I have learned this year:

1) Things are sometimes exactly what they seem. And sometimes things are not at all what they seem. As confusing as that is, it actually makes a lot of sense. I tend to overanalyze and overthink every single thing in my life. The problem with that is when I do all of that analyzing and thinking, I try to control situations and people within that. So sometimes it is best to take moments for exactly what they are. Nothing more, nothing less. That can be true for relationships, it can be true for situations and circumstances. So instead of trying to control things, it is sometimes best to take a breathe and experience things for exactly what they are. 

2) Life is never going to go as planned. At the beginning of this year, I thought I had an idea of where my year was going to go. Never did I think that I was going to end up in Tennessee living with my best friend working in an environment where I can openly live out my faith. It is totally okay to plan and figure out what you want next. But you cannot hold onto that plan so much that you miss the plans that God has for you. Trust me, it is always better to just go with God's plan the first time.

3) Love is a beautifully hard thing. This year I learned what love truly looked like. It is messy and it is sacrificial. It is hard and it is the easiest thing ever. But, sometimes love is fleeting. Sometimes life calls you in a different direction than love and you have to let go of it. Because holding onto love when life is moving you away from love can bring death to love. And sometimes, sometimes love stays. Either way, experience love to its fullest while you have it, because it is one of the only pure things in life. 

4) Find quiet moments of peaceful isolation. I know that this may seem simple, but in a world of go go go and never stop going, you need to find moments with just you. One of my favorite moments was a morning hike I took before work. It was cold out and I ended up at a small river in the woods. I sat on a rock in the wind next to the water and just breathed. And in that moment, I learned more about life and love and peace and joy than I could have imagined. Your soul, your spirit, your body, and your mind needs it. It will be worth it. Trust me. Find the small moments just for you. 

This is just a small amount of things that I have learned this year. And maybe none of this means anything to anyone else but maybe this will be a reminder to someone that life goes by so fast, but you do not have to just glide along with it. You have a say in your life. You have a purpose in your life. You were not created to just survive day in and day out, but to thrive within this small piece of life you have been given. Only you can make that choice. 

You are beautiful and you have incredible light within you. Never forget the power you hold. You have the choice what you do with it. 

Months Go By

Hello friends! So, I took quite a hiatus from my blog. I have not posted in a couple of months. Honestly, being in my last semester of college, life has been pretty tough. I am taking a quad semester (which is four semesters in one sixteen week period) and I am not going to lie, it is kicking my butt! But, I am happy to announce that I am just 18 days away from GRADUATING!! I could not be more excited. College has been crazy! But, if you have been following my blog for a little while you know this to be true!

In the past couple of months, a lot has happened. I quit my full time accounting job (since the work environment became really negative and I could not handle it with my mental disorders), I went back to Lifeway Christian Store which then found out they were closing all their stores, and I accepted a job at a Christian summer camp that my best friend had previously worked at. These past few months have been hard, I am not going to lie. It has been a struggle to stay positive and optimistic about things when my life was such a whirlwind, but I am extremely thankful to be where I am.

I have however been putting a lot of work into learning a lot of different life lessons from many people. I have spent a lot of time on social media platforms learning different perspectives on life and religion and love and a lot of other topics. I have spent a good amount of time listening to podcasts from pastors and influencers. I have taken time to read blogs and books and articles. I have really just absorbed a lot of information over the last few months as I am finishing my college career and start looking ahead to the next chapters of my life.

I have also spent some time to work on my mental health and learning how to make healthy decisions to improve my overall well-being in terms of my depression and anxiety. I have not opened up about these much on my blog, but I intend to do that soon.

All that to say: A LOT has happened. I cannot wait to share all of these things with you guys. But, I want to take a second and just say thank you to everyone who has supported me, whether this is your first time on my blog, or you have been here from the beginning. This is such a big dream of mine and getting to share my heart with the people I love is me getting to live out my dream. So THANK YOU for making this dream possible!

Stay tuned for more!

Along For The Ride

So, as some of you guys have noticed, I took some time off the last couple of days from my blog. In this post, I am going to tell you why. I promised to stay completely honest and open with you guys and that is very hard to do. Staying open and honest with now 200+ people is a difficult thing to do in a world that promotes the "highlights" instead of authenticity.

The last couple of days, I am going to be honest, I was struggling with some really deep depression and anxiety. I mean that I can't get out of bed depression and anxiety.

The crazy part is that all of it was set off by something so small. Essentially, I made a mistake when ordering a book that I really wanted and ordered the wrong one. That sounds really dumb, and trust me at the time I recognized that it was. But, I was already facing tons of insecurity and fear and anxiety surrounding this, my blog, and I just kept thinking that if I can mess up something so small, then how much more can I mess up this blog.

I won't lie, I really believe God brought this into my life at this time for a reason, but I am so inadequate. I know I am. I am not a writer nor have I studied English. I am not the most best believer nor the most pure Christian. I am not like some of these amazing Christian women like Christine Caine and Priscilla Shirer. I don't have amazing things to share or profound statements. All I keep thinking is that somehow I am going to mess this up and that everyone I care about is just going to laugh at me. That this is all a waste of time and effort. That no one cares or supports me. That I am never going to reach people the way I want to.

All I have is a passion to share and be real, and let others know that they aren't alone. That what they are feeling is valid and real. That they aren't crazy for feeling the way they do.

All I can hope is for that passion to be enough. That my desire to share that with others is enough. That somehow I am enough.

Someone I look up to told me this tonight: If you are going to invite people along your journey, then you have to let them in during the hard times too.

I invited you guys to come along my journey with me, and so because of that I will continue to try to be as real and open about where I am at. I am not out of that depression yet, it is still very much real and still a battle. Right now I am still learning how to deal with that in a healthy manner, but tomorrow is another day.

Preparations: A Hurricane is Coming

One part about living in Florida, is we know how to prepare for a hurricane. As Hurricane Michael approaches, that little line of prediction keeps creeping down the coast more and more toward me and my family. So, like every Floridian, we started preparing food, water, gas, batteries, etc. I always loved hurricane season, not the destruction of it obviously, but the calmness before the storm, the waiting, the preparation period. There is always this sense of something bigger than ourselves is coming, and there is nothing we can do but be prepared for when it arrives.

As I was at the store getting water for my family, this question popped in my head: What am I doing to prepare myself for the looming storms in life that are bigger than me and that I cannot stop?

I know.

That is a hard-hitting question to appear in the middle of the canned goods aisle, but there it was. It really struck a chord with me. If you know me, you know that when I am good, everything is good, but when I am not good, it affects everything and everyone around me. Right now I am in a period of good, my jobs, school, my friends, this blog, everything seems to be working out right now and everything is peaceful. But, life is always churning up another storm just building and moving in. So, what is it that I can be doing right now to prepare my heart for those ever-present storms?

Food and Water: The Lord says the He is the bread of life (His Word) and that He is the living water. When I fill myself in The Word and in God's presence, it means that my heart is not scrambling to find nourishment elsewhere. So when the storms come and destroy everything else, I will already be full and have the food and water accounted for.

Gas. Obviously there is no scripture that says "I am the gas of life" (could you imagine the middle school jokes?) but gas can be used in storms to burn lamps which bring light. So when the storms come and knock all the electricity out, the gas burns and keeps the light going strong. God is that light. He says that he is the "light of the world and a city on a hill cannot be hidden", and when the storms of life are coming, we have the promise that the Lord will light the way for us, we cannot be overtaken in darkness. And believe me, when the rescue happens, I want to be like the city on the hill and not be hidden.

Batteries. Batteries bring life. Simply put, God brings life. Batteries keep everything going when electricity fails. When our own strength fails us, God can use His power and His might to keep us strong. If not, then the storm will not have to try very hard to overcome you, because unfortunately, the storms are stronger than us, they are bigger than us. But, they are not bigger than our savior.

Just like in a storm, all of these things have to be prepared in advance. There is no way to prepare during a storm. Preparation for a storm comes at a price. The same is true in faith, it means sacrificing time, energy, and priorities, to be fully prepared when those storms hit, and trust me, they are going to hit.

So, I will ask you the same thing God asked me:

What are you doing to prepare yourself for the looming storms in life that are bigger than you and that you cannot stop?

The Numbers Challenge: Part 2

This weekend, in case you are just joining in, I encouraged that we all partake in a Numbers Challenge. The point behind this was to take a short period and make a conscience effort to not live life by the numbers. Not by the numbers on the scale. Not by the numbers in your bank account. Not by the number of followers, likes, and comments you have on social media. Not by the numbers.

So, I went through with this challenge. It was actually a lot of fun. I decided this weekend to look for the breathe-taking moments. The little, unexpected gems that God gives us throughout our life just because He is good.

So, here are my results:

On Friday, I had many breathe-taking moments, from beach waves and sunshine to cooking dinner with my best friend, the day was full of little moments of laughter and fun.

On Saturday, my breathe-taking moment came in an unexpected way. I was at work and because of strict hours, we were feeling pretty under staffed. And then our computer system decided to start working as slow as molasses. We had a good number of customers and my co worker and I were just trying to keep the joy. I just wanted our customers to feel loved and appreciated even with the long wait times, so I did what I do best, and make really awkward jokes just to keep the energy light. It made me so happy to see our customers laughing and joking back.

Today, my breathe-taking moment was when I was leading youth, we took them into adult service to take communion with the congregation. I help serve communion at our church since I am trained to do so (and honestly, I love serving our congregation communion). Getting to serve my youth communion and to see them learn what it means and to pray with them for the Lord to forgive their sins, was simply amazing.

To say the least, the Lord delivered within this challenge and gifted me with some amazing moments. This challenge is really something I would love to incorporate into my life every day, because there is such freedom in living by the breathe-taking moments instead of the numbers. I may still find myself slipping and looking at the numbers, but every day is a chance to have that hold be a little less and those chains fall off a little more.

For those of you who participated, thank you. It was wonderful knowing I wasn't alone and that I had accountability doing so. I have loved reading the messages of y'all's breathe-taking moments, thank you for sharing them with me!

As we go into a new week, continue to focus on looking for the breathe-taking moments, even within the moments of stress and hard circumstances. God will bless you within your effort, and through it all remember to give Him thanks for each beautiful, unique breathe-taking moment.

Dreading the Waters, Riding the Waves

One thing most people know about me is that I am terrified of open water. I love water in general, but open water for some reason scares me.

Yesterday, one of my best friends and I decided to take a mental health day and went to the beach. Usually I don't go in the water past my knees, but yesterday in following with my numbers challenge, I decided I didn't want my fear to rule me. So when we finally decided to get into the water I walked in until I was a little less than shoulder deep. I was shaking, but I was doing it!

The second time we went in, going in to my shoulders didn't seem like such a big deal. My friend and I saw a few guys going out to the sand bar (maybe 50 or 60 feet from shore, which to me seemed like 4 or 5 miles) so we decided to go as well. So, slowly we swam towards the sand bar. It was terrifying, but when my feet hit the sand bar it was exhilarating to know that I did it. I was out there.

I may not have conquered my fears, but I definitely took a big step in not letting them control me. Here is the thing about fears, we are always going to have them. They may change over time, but we can't get rid of all of our fears. But, we can decide to not let fear control us. We can choose to live our life outside of fear.

This blog is one of my fears. I know it may not seem that way from my writing, but to put myself out there is terrifying.  But, the last week has also been unexpectedly amazing. The best thing about overcoming the control fear has on you is not necessarily the action, but the feeling that goes with conquering something that has a hold on you. There is nothing more freeing.

I hope all of you that are participating in The Numbers Challenge are having a good time and finding the small, breath-taking moments! I cannot wait to hear your stories!

Jeremiah 29:11 day 18