I feel like it's been ages since I last posted anything. Life came fast, I guess. These last few weeks have been so amazing. Long walks in the park, several daily cups of coffee (such a vice...), exploration with new music, and good times with new friends--I'm so beyond blessed.
I decided to get out of my comfort zone recently, and, true to my nature, I made sure to learn a few lessons.
1. Hand holding is a simple joy. Indulge when you can.
It's simple, innocent, and can invoke preteen-worthy giddiness in even the most reserved individual. Even if you know it will never evolve into anything; even if it's not the person you've held hands with in the past; even if [insert whatever reason you wish], it's still nice to just know that for a few moments of your life someone else wanted to be closer than an inch away from you. All right, enough cheesiness.
2. Take your time.
I asked a friend for some of the best advice he could give me. He thought for a second and calmly stated, "Take your time. In everything." Yeah, time is a precious thing, and it's for that very reason that we should take care to make sure we're using it to do something worthwhile.
3. Encourage others.
Being nice to folks is one thing; taking an extra step and giving them a reason to love themselves is another. We need it. Every last one of us. We all need some sense of pride (not a heavy dose, but enough to counter the daily bout of low self-esteem). So tell someone that they've done something good. Let them know that they're a blessing. Show someone how much they've changed your life. I promise, it's well worth it.
4. Help when you can.
Summer, according to my sister, is the time to get out of school and embrace at least three months of "me time." (Oh, how I love her!) And while I will definitely agree that there is a time and place for a person to take a step out of his or her daily life and take time for his or herself, at some point, we've got to deny our selfish intentions and do something for someone else. Whether it's volunteering, or a random act of kindness, it's vital.
5. Don't deceive yourself.
As a child, I had an imagination that could have put the Rugrats (please tell me you remember that show!) to shame. Even now, I find myself making up elaborate stories about how my life may turn out, but there are some of these stories that I struggle to fight off. I want things to be better than they really are, and so I turn a blind eye to all of the flaws of a situation. This, however, will set anyone up for failure. Take things for face value. If you meet someone, enjoy their company, but don't convince yourself that there is a connection there when there really isn't. When you reflect on who you are, don't think of yourself as any better than you really are.
6. Don't you dare set your future in stone.
You want to be married? That's great! You want a couple of youngsters? Awesome! You aspire to have one particular job? Nice! Aspirations and hopes are always good. Life, however, seems to be a tiny bit different from what we plan. Yes, plans are good in certain areas, but when you tie yourself down to a specific idea, and refuse to venture from that path, you are practically looking at God and saying, "Yeah...Lord, I understand that You're mighty and all, and that you pretty much have everything worked out, but I think that this particular thing right here is what I should really be going after, and consulting You about it is not exactly in my agenda. Instead, I think it would be best if You conformed to Your plan for my life to match my idea. K Thanks. Bye." I'm not typing this as an attack on anyone reading this, but as a piece of wisdom that I've been hit hard with recently.
Trust me, there are several more things that I could write, but I think six will suffice for today. Enjoy the day, praise God for your blessings, and try something new if you get the chance.
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