Archive | E ‘ N O T E S

I love taking walks. I usually go with my mom but this past week I’ve had to go by myself since our schedules weren’t meshing. Before I left I thought about calling someone and talking on the phone while I did my loop but I decided to just take a walk with my thoughts. In the process here are four things I learned while getting some exercise.

Walk on the sunny side of the street
I mean this both literally and figuratively. When you have the choice of a sunny side or a shady side walk in the sunshine! In life there is also a sunny side and a shady side. Maybe it feels like there is a rain cloud following you around but it is always sunny above the clouds so don’t forget that the sun still shines even when we can’t see it. By all means though if you can choose the sunny, light filled path then do.

Get the pebble out of your sneaker
I felt the pebble and ignored it since it moved to another place in my shoe that wasn’t as uncomfortable but I still kept thinking about it because it was annoying. I finally stopped and dealt with it. The rest of my walk was much more enjoyable. I think in life we have things that are pebbles and since it’s a nuisance to deal with them we just put up with it. Yet who really wants to have an irritant that they can’t stop thinking about in the back of their mind? What’s your “pebble” in life right now? I guarantee you it is worth the effort to stop and deal with it.

Smile at strangers
I don’t know about you but where I live people aren’t super keen on smiling. I smile anyways. I’d rather be the person that smiled instead of the person that passed and didn’t. Plus smiling is good for your health.

A simple hello can change your day
A child on my walk yelled out at me, “Hello, stranger!” It was so sweet and it totally made my day. They also got sooooo excited when a limousine passed. Lesson learned: children have a lot to teach us, take the time to see people, and find joy in the little things.

I hope you get out and take a walk today and notice all the lessons just waiting to be seen! Happy day friends!

I don’t know about you but there are some days when I just need to be reminded I’m loved.  Maybe it’s not so much even hearing it (although that is really important) but knowing that I’m loved.  Truthfully I’m surrounded by amazing people that love me but even with all that sometimes it’s just not enough and I crave something deeper.  Which is actually quite normal since I believe we are hardwired for love.  I think that something deeper we crave is a someone and that is Jesus.

It’s in those moments that I need to know that God loves me.  He doesn’t just love a future version of myself when I see him in heaven but right now.  He’s pleased with me here with all the faults that still lurk.  So today if you need to know in the deepest parts of your very being that God loves you right now here are some verse from his heart to yours.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”  Ephesians 2:4-5

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  1 John 4:9-10

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”  1 John 3:1

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26

My friends YOU are LOVED.  And not by someone who can have a bad day and be irritated with you, not by someone who may say the wrong thing by accident, not someone who forgets about you in their busy day.  No, you are loved by God who thinks you’re beautiful even when you wake up with bad breath and weird bed head.  You are loved by God who isn’t mad at you when you’re unkind.  You are loved by God who literally can’t forget about you.  My friend you are loved by GOD.  I hope that sinks in a little bit deeper today right down into those dark and dry cracks of your soul.

Leave a comment below so I can give you a virtual hug!

We often hear the phrase “Quality vs. quantity” but what does that really entail?  Today I want to share with you a few reasons why I believe quality vs. quantity is a life choice that produces healthy results.

1.  A change of heart can make you happier

First of all, to purchase things with quality instead of just buying a bunch of items takes a mental decision to really consider why you spend money and on what things.  It’s so easy to spot those sale signs from a mile away and not even consider if it’s something we really need.  Our consumerist culture has trained us to believe we need more, more, and then some more.  If we buy into the lie that says we always need more to be happy we’ll never be happy.  Choosing to be content with fewer quality items versus a bunch of cheap items is a beautiful way to let your life be about more than just things.

2.  Durability and longevity

Another wonderful reason to purchase quality items is the fact that quality means durability and the means of lasting longer.  If you choose to spend a bit more on something that is quality you won’t have to replace it as quickly.  A while ago I bought a pair of super cheap leggings. They cost me less than five dollars but within a few days they already had a hole in them! I’ve experienced this before with cheap leggings.  It’s taken me having to replace them twice (ugh) to start realizing I should find a brand that is more durable.

3.  Save

I realize that a lot of quality items cost more and that is often a hang up in purchasing those items.  In the long run though you end up saving money and time if you don’t have to replace something as often.

4.  Less clutter

Choosing to buy quality doesn’t mean that you have to live sparsely but it does mean that you choose to make thoughtful decisions about what you need and like.  This in turn leads to less stuff clogging up your space and life.

5.  Love what you own

One of the most rewarding things about choosing a quality vs. quantity lifestyle is that the things you’ve invested in mean more to you.  Several years ago I found the most gorgeous genuine leather purse in mint condition at the thrift store.  I bought it because I’d been looking for that exact thing (actually this was better than I imagined).  It’s a classic piece that will last me for life because it was crafted with the intent to last.  I enjoy it every time I use it and I get compliments on it frequently.

So the next time you go to make a purchase I hope you think about why you’re buying it, how long it will last, how you can save money in the long run, having less clutter, and loving what you own!  Ask yourself if it’s quality or quantity that you want to base your choice on.  In the long run I think you will be more satisfied with quality.