Hey everyone!
It's been a while...too long since I've written. Time has just flown by. It's crazy! These past few weeks, the reality that life is fleeting and the fact that we are not promised tomorrow has smacked me in the face. In a way, that's the beauty of life. According to Emily Dickinson, "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." That being said, as we get all caught up in the hustle and bustle and craziness of this thing we call life, we forget to appreciate the little things. I want to talk a little bit right now about some of the "little things" I am so thankful for.
Sunny days
I go to school in Fort Worth, TX, so the weather in January/February can be rather interesting. Some days it can be 45 degrees and windy, other days it is 75 degrees and sunny. We have had quite a lot of sunny days these past few weeks and my friends and I have tried lately to include enjoying the weather into our busy schedule. A few weeks ago, some of us went to the zoo, and it was just a great time to forget about all of our responsibilities and just enjoy life. I am pretty sure we had more fun than the children, but we were definitely okay with that. It was just so wonderful because we got to take in the sunshine, get some Vitamin D, and see the baby elephants. We were reminded once again just how awesome our God is and how cool his creations are.
This past weekend was glorious as well, so a few of my friends and I were able to go and watch the current TCU baseball team play against some TCU alumni, which was exciting, because some major leaguers including Matt Carpenter and Brandon Finnegan (TCU alum) played.
For whatever reason, the sun forces me to get out and enjoy life, even if it is just for a little while, and I am trying so hard not to take these days for granted.
My favorite bar
You might think this is an odd thing to put in a blog post about being grateful for the little things, and at first glance, it is, however, this is not just any old bar. I go to church in this bar almost every Sunday. It is the college branch of Christ Chapel Bible Church, and the bar owner allowed them to use it so that TCU students could walk to church, as many freshmen and sophomores do not have vehicles on campus. This church/bar has been such a blessing in my life the past year and a half and I have grown so much in my faith. Each Sunday, it is jam-packed full of college students praising Jesus and it just warms my heart. Our college pastor is not just a great speaker, but he is just so real, and each week I am challenged to live out my faith even more. Every time I leave, I am refreshed and ready to take the week by storm, regardless of what my mood had been walking in, and I am just so thankful for that.
Phone calls from home
I don't always talk to my mom, but when I do, it's typically for no less than 20 minutes because we just talk about everything going on in our lives. Sometimes I talk to my little brother, sister, and dad as well, and when I get off the phone with them, I typically have a smile on my face, even if I was having a difficult day, because they just lift me up, even when they do not realize it. As I've been away from home for a while now, I am realizing just how important family is. I used to take them for granted, but lately, I've been realizing just how blessed I am to have such a great family. I can count on them to be there for me through the highs and lows of life, whether they're physically there or not.
Food with friends
Some of my most real conversations happen over meals with friends; so does a lot of laughter. While I am feeding my body, my friends are feeding my soul, and this is something that I appreciate so much about them; they get me. They know if I need a laugh or just need to talk, and I just love them (and food) so much.
Weekends
I feel like weekends are one of the most taken for granted things ever, but have you ever stopped and thought about what life would be like without them? I did, and it scared me. Nothing would ever slow down...we would never be able to catch out breath. I know that I use weekends to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while, prioritize my week, do my laundry, watch some netflix, and sleep. It is just so refreshing. Because of the often unrealized importance of weekends, I have decided that I am going to try really hard not to take them for granted anymore.
Having a car on campus
I did not have a car on campus last year, and it was not horrible, I just rode places with people. That being said, it has been wonderful having one this year because I am able to get out more and be in control of how long I stay places. If I just really need to get off campus, I can; I don't have to wait for anyone else with a car to want to go off campus. Just before Christmas break, one of my really good friends got in my car and drove through all of the neighborhoods around TCU's campus and looked at all of the Christmas lights. That allowed us to get away from our studies (it was finals week) and just breathe and smile, something that was much needed at that point in time. Just tonight, I decided that instead of eating at the dining hall with my little, we were going to go out to eat, and it was just a great little break from campus for both of us. I did not know how much more convenient my life would get until I had a car on campus and I am so thankful that my parents allowed me to have one this year.
These are just a few of the little things that I have found I have been incredibly grateful for while reflecting on these past few weeks. I try to focus on the positives and being thankful in my life as it is so easy to be negative. I encourage you to do the same.
Giuliana Rancic was here at TCU just last week and she encouraged us to do a 30 day challenge in which we list things we are grateful for, by talking to God, or whatever higher power we believe in, and I have just started this (I write mine down in a journal), and it is already changing the way I am looking at my life, so if you don't do this, try it! It is great!
Before I go, I will leave y'all with one last quote. "Be grateful for small things, big things, and everything in between. Count your blessings, not your problems." -Mandy Hale
Have a great week everyone!
Yours Truly,
Steph
No comments:
Post a Comment