Monday Mantra: A Christmas Reminder

Psst.

Yes.

I know we’re not in December.

But hey, now that that’s cleared up lol, good morning! 🙂

In honor of this new-ish series dedicated to bettering your Monday mornings (and mine, Mondays can be a struggle for me too. I’ve got 2…3? exams, two essays, and who knows what else coming up this week to prep for), I wanted to pop in with a quick reminder.

Think back to Christmas.

Now, we all know how the holiday season works: big hullabaloo the two, maybe three, months preceding Christmas–all the fanfare, sparkling lights, and smiling faces. Christmas Eve the anticipation mounts, children can’t sleep for dreams of white beards and red noses, until, finally, Christmas Day at last! Families gather together, presents are exchanged, and the trees glow.

Then… it’s over. Done. Nothing.

Those generous thoughts, the optimistic mentality, that kind approach just… vanish. Everyone goes back to their “normal” routine.

Why can’t that be the normal though?

If you’re a few years (cough, decades–hey, no shame! That just makes you wiser than us youngin’s) past your childhood, it may not be as vivid, but do you remember what it was like waking up on Christmas morning as a child? Excitement ringing through your body, like nothing could go wrong this one day? How nice it was that, just this once, nobody would argue–and if they did, they’d have to put it away for the rest of the day because it was Christmas?

I’m gonna let you in on a big secret. Huge, completely mind-blowing. A total epiphany I had this past Christmas. You ready?

…

You can live like it’s Christmas every day.

One choice. One selfless instead of selfish. One smile instead of a frown. You choose.

Today and every day, you have the power to make the day great. I promise you, if you fill your happiness meter with God and ask for his peace and joy, nothing can take that away from you. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose for you. Jesus was born for you. That gives you a free ticket to live every day like a birthday party, no matter who is pooping on your party.

I’d say it’s time to start celebrating, how about you?

Also relating to Christmas (what can I say, it’s my favorite holiday!), mom finally bought the cartoon movie The Star! If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it–especially if you have little ones. Or, you know, if you’re just like me and are a little one at heart. Whichever. Thank you so much for reading and for all the support! You are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

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New Year–Not New You?

Happy New Year dreamers! 🙂

I, for one, did not stay up to watch the ball drop (it’s on my bucket list, so I’ll stay up for it… one day lol), but if you did I hope you enjoyed watching it with your loved ones! Maybe even snuck in a kiss 😉 It symbolizes the marking of a new year, new beginnings, new opportunities…

But I want to pause the new for a moment.

I want to remind you to celebrate the old you and the present you.

At the stroke of January 1, 2018, millions–if not hundreds of millions–of people around the globe will be listing all the things about themselves they want to change, to improve, or to erase completely. Addictions, obesity, and bad habits will be at the top of these lists, naturally; unfortunately, these goals will often come with obsessive and even dangerous solutions: starvation, over-exercise, you name it. Now, please don’t mistake me, I applaud everyone seeking out healthier lifestyles–it truly is a beautiful change!

However, most people will seek this change because of something they hate about themselves.

You are a beautiful person, hand-crafted and eternally-adored. Sure, you’ve made mistakes; who hasn’t?! We all fall off the wagon, and while New Year’s resolutions are a convenient push to get us on track, they put a certain amount of… shame on our bodies, the way we are now. I mean, don’t they? All the diet and fitness ads we’ve been seeing on TV since November imply that we aren’t good enough now, that we won’t be good enough until we’ve done [    ], whatever that thing is we’re striving to obtain.

You have worked so hard in your life. You have done so many wonderful things. You are one of a kind.

So have a little love for yourself right now.

Before you lose the weight. Before you quit smoking. Before you stop bingeing. Before you get that promotion. Before any of those “to-do’s” become checked boxes. Before any of it, respect the you that’s made it this far–because I know it’s been one heck of a journey, with plenty of ups and downs. Sure, you can make some changes, but do it for you–to live life to the fullest; to enjoy each day, the good and the bad; to be more present for those you love.

I’ve got a few tips I think coincide with many of your goals for the new year, but in a healthier light:

• Fuel your body with food that helps you keep up with your rambunctious kiddos.
• Take baby steps to overcoming addictions: they didn’t happen overnight or even over a year, so don’t kill yourself willing them away immediately.
• Do more of what makes you happy 🙂 Take five minutes out for your secret hobbies and passions–not to impress anyone, but simply for yourself.
• “Move ya’ body!” Just find a little motion you enjoy; forcing yourself to do three hours of cardio is a grueling torture none of us envy you! If you like yoga, meditate and get some stretching in first thing in the morning. If you love weights, rack in some squats after work to burn off the stress before you get home–win win for everybody!

I love you guys, and I hope you remind yourselves to have a little love for you too. You deserve it.

And as always, you are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

Where Are You Christmas?

Hello everyone! 🙂

I’m sorry if it seems like I’ve skipped town this week–after writing a post every single day from December 1st till Christmas for Blogmas, I decided it’d be best to give my writing mind a wee break for a few days. Not that I didn’t love Blogmas! This was my first time being a part of this beautiful blogging community during the holiday season and I can’t tell you how encouraging it’s been ❤︎

But still, breaks are nice–as I’m sure we can all agree after the hustle and bustle of Christmas get-togethers!

And after all the hustling and bustling, it can truly be a physical and emotional shock when Christmas is over. The post-Christmas season can almost completely undo all that joy and magic Christmas created. It’s one of the most depressed seasons of the year.

So I wanted to share something my pessimistic, Scrooge-y father said when I was regaling him with my sadness about Christmas being over:

“Christmas every day Jordan.”

Simple, but it flipped my perspective on its head. We all associate values of generosity, selflessness, and enduring optimism with Christmas–and, for some reason, December 26th is a signal that it’s all over. I even do it, act like things are going “back to normal” after Christmas.

Why can’t normal be generosity, selflessness, and optimism?

“Christmas every day.”

Generosity every day. Kindness every day. Positivity every day.

I was so stunned by this revelation–and then by the level of my reaction. Is it so hard to imagine, so foreign a concept? And yet, it is. I no longer expect kindness from strangers I meet at stores, in restaurants.

Maybe… if I held people to the standards I do during Christmas,  perhaps… they would carry those standards after Christmas. If I keep holding doors, offering smiles, and giving love–with no demand for its return–, maybe others will catch on and pass it on to the next person.

Maybe you can pass it on too ❤︎

Call it the Christmas Spirit Movement if you will, but how are you trying to keep the joy of Christmas alive now that Christmas is over?

Thank you for reading my wonderful readers! You are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

Maybe Christmas, He Thought, Doesn’t Come From a Store

Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.

As we gather around our trees, warm by the fire… presents unwrapped, and good food in our bellies… let us not forget the reason for the season…

Merry. Mary. Mother of Jesus, bearer of hope for all people.

Christmas. Christ. The son of God, savior to all who ask his forgiveness.

Merry Christmas: On this day, God’s promise fulfilled; later, it would be sealed with Jesus’ blood on the cross.

But for now, we get to sit back and give thanks for this precious baby boy, this boy who gives us hope for the future and a promise for eternity. I wish you all a very, merry Christmas and pray that you are surrounded by loved ones in a day of peace, laughter, and love.

I pray you know how much Jesus loves you dear friend. That love is what brought him down this day many, many years ago- for you. You are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

“Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s Practically Here!”

While the Grinch said this with utter shock and budding disdain, I am bubbling and bouncing with glee! This is it, my favorite holiday of the entire year is fast upon us!! (Granted, that also means that my favorite holiday is also closer to being over… but let’s not go there just yet, mmkay?)

Today, we will be hosting for my dad’s side of the family… Today, will be our first time hosting Christmas (even if it’s technically on Christmas Eve). Needless to say, we’re going to be desperately scrambling to make sure everything is just right before everyone gets here, so there’s very little time for relaxing with my laptop this morning! Have to love scheduling posts ahead of time, am I right? 😉

What all will you be doing today? Any out-of-state traveling or family get-togethers to attend? Or is today the stay-in day before all the hustle and bustle tomorrow? I hope it’s merry and bright, wherever you may be today.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve dear dreamers! You are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

Christmas Bells Are Ringing!

Good morning or evening to all (depending on when you get the chance to, you know, breath for a hot second and read this)!

It’s only two more days till Christmas- can you believe it?! Well, okay, technically it’s three if you count all of today… but still, we’re so close! Hopefully you’re recovering from the crazy shopping rush and starting to actually enjoy the holiday- but if not, I’m right there with you. Today’s our last day to make everything spick-and-span before the family comes over tomorrow; no rest for the weary, huh?

So no eloquent posts for me today, just a quick well-wishing for your Christmas Eve Eve! (Yes, that is a thing.) Also, I thought this was a cute little correlation:

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… three french hens.

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.

You may think it’s silly, but I thought it was neat 🙂

Merry Christmas Eve Eve dear ones, you are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎

Christmas Time Is Here

Counting today, we have four days till Christmas!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… four calling birds (sorry, I had to, you know you were thinking it too!).

In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d list four of my favorite Bible verses:

1. Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” I’ve been turning to this one over and over recently, when I’m wrestling with things I just can’t control. God is God of the impossible, nothing is too big for him- and he’s on your side, so give it to God and feel peace 🙂
2. Psalm 73:26 “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Bad times suck, and they seem to hit us out of nowhere: 2016 was the year of a barn burning down, a knee injury, a bad breakup, and my lonely first semester of college. But if you turn to God and share that pain, I promise it will get better.
3. Proverbs 3:6 “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” In case you didn’t know, I pretty much have no clue what I want to do for the rest of my life… aaand I only have two more years of college to figure that out. So when I get completely frazzled and overwhelmed, I turn to this reminder. Things will fall into place for my good, if I just remember to put God first.
4. Matthew 10:31 “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” God, the creator of the universe, looked at this great big world and thought it needed one of you. He wanted one of you. And he wanted one of me. That sure makes me feel pretty special, and I hope it makes you realize just how loved you are my friend.

Let me tell you, I didn’t realize how many verses I had marked up in my Bible until I had to narrow it down to four! And this is coming from the girl who used to think of the Bible as the most boring book in the world- yep, you heard right, I couldn’t stand it. However, that was before I’d begun seeking God’s love for my own.

But that’s a story for another time.

Have a wonderful day dreamers, thank you for reading! You are beautiful and you are loved ❤︎