Well, tomorrow I officially leave for my European adventure. I thought I would do one last post before I go, so here it is. In the past few days, I've realized a lot about myself and my relationships with others. I've started to realize how much of life is giving and how much of life is receiving. The two go hand in hand with each other. Most of the time when I give someone something or give someone myself, I don't ask for or expect anything in return. Which I think is the way everyone should do things, never expecting anything in return. Yet, it must go both ways. Others should respect you enough to give back to you what you have given them or anything in return for that matter.
Another thing I've been thinking about a lot lately is this thing called unconditional love. I've heard it over and over again in Religion class and various other places, but never sat down and thought about it. How important this kind of love is in any relationship whether it be with your parents, your friends, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or with God. This must be the only type of love in which you give to others. If you care enough for someone to tell them you love them and really mean it, you must love them under any conditions. I've noticed lately how that doesn't always happen, as much as we would like to think it does. These past few days, weeks and months to come I am going to be searching for and learning a lot of new things about myself that I never knew existed. You are the only one who can love yourself unconditionally at every moment of every day.
So if anyone is reading this, thank you for that. Keep us all in your prayers as we travel throughout Europe and keep me in your prayers as I go on a journey of self-discovery.
Eat a crepe, draw a picture, and always
stay.beautiful
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
a few random thoughts
The last few months for me have been filled with this search to find who I really am, and who I want to become the next few years in college. I've been trying to figure out what really makes me happy in life and I've been trying to so just that, be happy. Don't stop reading! I promise this isn't another one of those "I'm searching for happiness" cliche stories( Or at least I hope it isn't.) But I've realized that I have been looking outside of myself to try and find it. I'm currently reading the book Eat, Pray, Love which is fitting because I leave for Europe on Friday. In reading it, I have come to see that the path to happiness doesn't lie with other people. Happiness may come from being around other people but it must ultimately stem from you. After a long few months of sadness and a feeling of being lost, I know I'm going to be more than okay. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen in Gods time. As Father said in the homily last Sunday, " There can be no Resurrection without the suffering of the cross."
Random thought: This past week I have been to two funerals. One was for an older man who served in Vietnam and lived a long, good life. He was married for 63 years. I bet you're thinking " Holy crap, 63 years?! " because I thought the same thing. The second funeral I went to this week was for a friend of ours who was diagnosed with lung cancer in November. He was only 51 years old and accepted his death with such holiness and grace.
When I was younger I would always tell myself I wanted to make a difference in the world. I wanted to impact someone in a way that they would never forget me. I think everyone thinks this in their lives. Mr. Grosserode in your last few weeks here on Earth with us, you taught many people how to accept God's will for them. Help me to remember that it is not mine, but His will to be done. And help me to accept whatever comes my way with the humility and grace in which you did. RIP.
Be happy, say a prayer, and always
stay.beautiful
Random thought: This past week I have been to two funerals. One was for an older man who served in Vietnam and lived a long, good life. He was married for 63 years. I bet you're thinking " Holy crap, 63 years?! " because I thought the same thing. The second funeral I went to this week was for a friend of ours who was diagnosed with lung cancer in November. He was only 51 years old and accepted his death with such holiness and grace.
When I was younger I would always tell myself I wanted to make a difference in the world. I wanted to impact someone in a way that they would never forget me. I think everyone thinks this in their lives. Mr. Grosserode in your last few weeks here on Earth with us, you taught many people how to accept God's will for them. Help me to remember that it is not mine, but His will to be done. And help me to accept whatever comes my way with the humility and grace in which you did. RIP.
Be happy, say a prayer, and always
stay.beautiful
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
be silent, and listen.
The hardest thing for me to do, yet the thing I believe I am best at, is listening to people. I love just listening to people's stories. I was walking downtown the other day and saw a homeless man and was so drawn to just go and start talking to him and listen to his story. As the logical side of my brain kicked in and said, "That may not be very safe," I never went and talked to him. But how often do we really sit down and listen to what people are saying? Do we really hear them, or do we just listen?
I've realized with graduation coming up, that I haven't listened to what a lot of people told me in high school. Obviously there are no regrets, but it makes me wonder what would have happened if I really got to know all of my classmates' stories. If I took the time to actually hear what they have been saying to me the past four years, spoken or unspoken. And I think the unspoken words are the ones with the most meaning. We all, me included, have so much going on inside our heads that sometimes the things we feel mean the most to us are the words we don't speak. So my challenge to you today, and everyday, is to listen to the unspoken word. And I am going to do the same. Don't just listen to people, hear what they are saying. Next time you are downtown, don't pass by the homeless man like I did. Utter a, "Hello" or a "I hope you are having a good day." If you are really daring, ask about his story. You might be surprised as to what lessons you can learn.
Smell a rose, donate something, and always,
stay.beautiful
I've realized with graduation coming up, that I haven't listened to what a lot of people told me in high school. Obviously there are no regrets, but it makes me wonder what would have happened if I really got to know all of my classmates' stories. If I took the time to actually hear what they have been saying to me the past four years, spoken or unspoken. And I think the unspoken words are the ones with the most meaning. We all, me included, have so much going on inside our heads that sometimes the things we feel mean the most to us are the words we don't speak. So my challenge to you today, and everyday, is to listen to the unspoken word. And I am going to do the same. Don't just listen to people, hear what they are saying. Next time you are downtown, don't pass by the homeless man like I did. Utter a, "Hello" or a "I hope you are having a good day." If you are really daring, ask about his story. You might be surprised as to what lessons you can learn.
Smell a rose, donate something, and always,
stay.beautiful
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
inner peace
Someone told me today to "find your inner peace." I thought about it and asked myself why I hadn't thought about that. Where there is turmoil, peace is just around the corner waiting for you to find it. I've realized that change is inevitable. Whether we like it or not, change is a part of life. Yet, the true judge of character is how you handle it.
I've been so wrapped up in the major changes going on in my life, that I have lost the peace that I had within myself. I've challenged myself from here on out to always meditate on the inner peace I have within myself, and if it's not there, I must find it. My challenge to anyone reading this blog (if there is anyone) is to find your inner peace. So when change shows its ugly, or pretty, face, you can willingly accept it with your whole heart. Always know that God has a plan for you.
Smile at a stranger, recycle, and always,
stay.beautiful
I've been so wrapped up in the major changes going on in my life, that I have lost the peace that I had within myself. I've challenged myself from here on out to always meditate on the inner peace I have within myself, and if it's not there, I must find it. My challenge to anyone reading this blog (if there is anyone) is to find your inner peace. So when change shows its ugly, or pretty, face, you can willingly accept it with your whole heart. Always know that God has a plan for you.
Smile at a stranger, recycle, and always,
stay.beautiful
Sunday, May 8, 2011
the first day.
As I was on a breezy walk with my mother for mother's day, I had the idea to start this blog. I hope you enjoy.
I have recently realized that the things we perceive as the norm, the things we know and are comfortable with, are often times lost in this crazy game of life. The things we have always wanted in our lives for ourselves aren't always what we need. The words that we never said will remain just that, unsaid. And the words we did say, are out there forever. The past isn't something we are supposed to look back on and regret. But yet, it is something we are supposed to look back on and smile at.
At this time in my life, I'm starting to learn these lessons that I never wanted. Such as; the lesson that the plan you have for yourself isn't always what God has in mind for you, and that even though we all think so, the first one isn't always the only one. I can truly say that I have loved, and I have been loved. And I realize that being only 18, many people will choose to not believe that. But who am I to judge them, right?
Until next time, turn a penny heads up, tell a stranger hello and always...
stay.beautiful
I have recently realized that the things we perceive as the norm, the things we know and are comfortable with, are often times lost in this crazy game of life. The things we have always wanted in our lives for ourselves aren't always what we need. The words that we never said will remain just that, unsaid. And the words we did say, are out there forever. The past isn't something we are supposed to look back on and regret. But yet, it is something we are supposed to look back on and smile at.
At this time in my life, I'm starting to learn these lessons that I never wanted. Such as; the lesson that the plan you have for yourself isn't always what God has in mind for you, and that even though we all think so, the first one isn't always the only one. I can truly say that I have loved, and I have been loved. And I realize that being only 18, many people will choose to not believe that. But who am I to judge them, right?
Until next time, turn a penny heads up, tell a stranger hello and always...
stay.beautiful
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