A random thought about aging...

Bette Davis said, "Getting older isn't for sissies".  You know, that's really true.  It sounds funny at first, because it happens to ALL of us, regardless of how we feel about it or try to fight it.  But if you think about it, it's spot on.

Aging is something we're all so afraid of, I think especially in America.  Many countries in the world hold their elders in high esteem, but we tend to obsess over and worship youth and vitality over age and wisdom. So as a society, when 'age' comes knocking, we go running and screaming in the opposite direction, frantically searching for the latest innovations and novelties that will keep us looking and feeling 'young'.  That's not very brave, is it? What we look like should not be who we are, and what we're valued for.  That's shallow and really kinda silly.  How much more courageous would it be to embrace growing older, and allow the wisdom and knowledge from our life experiences -  not to mention the love of our God living inside of us - to reflect our inner beauty and shape our countenance?  Not only in ourselves, but to accept and seek it out from others? 

How awesome would that be!?  Perhaps if we became a more inner-beauty & worth-focused society than an outward one, we could build upon one another's stregths and better appreciate and the 'now' instead of constantly fearing the future or escaping the past.  Be brave, embrace it!  It's such a simple concept, but a hard 'do', because of the state of our society.  But it's worth a try, right?!   Turning 40 this year makes me consider this a lot more heavily, as my perspective is changing as I get older.  You can't turn back the clock and you can't stop time from marching forward.  I want to be courageous and embrace my age rather than be constantly trying to wimpily run away from it! 

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.  Just some rambling thoughts I had after watching a snippet of a talk show this morning!

(PS- I'm not really talking about wanting to look good 'for your age' or taking care of yourself.  That's different! At least if you're not obsessive about it...)  

THANKFUL

I had a thought a little while ago and thought I'd just come in and jot it down.  I got to thinking of all that I'm thankful for, and the list was so long.  Then I realized that there really isn't much that I'm NOT thankful for!  Even the bad/hard stuff - though it isn't fun to experience - shapes us, teaches us and brings us wisdom and perspective.  Besides, appreciation of the good stuff is only made richer by being familiar with the bad stuff too, right?  May God find me grateful not only on this day, but always and in all things! 

GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME - AND ALL THE TIME - GOD IS GOOD!

BE BLESSED!

A Season of Gratitude

Well, with Thanksgiving being tomorrow, 'the holidays' are officially here! And there's talk everywhere about how to 'de-stress' your holidays, and the big question:  "What stresses you out the most during the holidays?"  You know what?  The thing that stresses me the most is everybody stressin' out!  For the season nicknamed, "the most wonderful time of the year" - when we're supposed to be thankful and loving and peace-seeking -  people sure can "Scrooge-out"!  Why do we do it?!  It seems so unnecessary!  Here's why:

I heard some good advice about de-stressing this season from Martha Beck, an author, O Magazine contributor, and LifeCoach.  I'm paraphrasing a bit, but these were her basic points:

• Check your motivation.  Motivation is typically fueled by one of two things:  Love and Fear.  Doing things you love to do, or for someone/people you love and care about, vs. fear that if you don't do/make/get something, someone/people will be upset, disappointed, or you will fail, etc.  
• Let 'good' be good enough.  You don't have to be perfect!  We tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard than others do, and often 'good' is more than plenty and perfectly acceptable for most! 
• Find the humor in the holiday(s).  Don't take things (and yourself) too seriously.  Learn to let those 'mishaps' color your holiday & make it memorable rather than ruin it.

Love that!  Great 'checks' for our motivation and easing the stress of perfection.  Also, keeping an attitude of gratitude and a giving spirit will help you keep perspective and be more mindful of your actions.  It's hard to be grateful when your eyes are on yourself!  Joel Osteen says, "Constant gratitude shows humility because when we are thankful, we magnify God instead of magnifying our problems. It gives us proper perspective and opens the door for God’s grace, favor and supernatural empowerment."

 “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34, AMP

So, maybe instead of asking, "What stresses you out during the holidays?", we should be asking, "What are you grateful for?"  Here's to our holidays being fueled by love and gratitude rather than fear of perfection and perception!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!   ;-)

Multitude Monday, Vol. 6

I'm still new to this journey of One Thousand Gifts.  Still finding my way, still learning how to truly and earnestly appreciate all of the beautiful gifts the Lord has given and placed around me.  I yearn to get out of myself and take in my surroundings, the things and people that bring me joy, to savor the simple things and then turn them all upward in praise.  Ann Voskamp says,

"It’s only in the expressing of gratitude for the life we already have that we discover the life we’ve always wanted—a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — and by God."

Father, please open the eyes of my heart that I may see your glorious works around me with my physical eyes and ears and touch. Help me to slow down, pay attention, and take it all in.  And then return it all back to you and be a witness to others of your unfailing love, mercy and grace.   Amen.

72.  Thankful for time spent with visiting family that I don't get to see much.
73.  Fall colors finally showing up!  Beautimous!
74.  New peeps visiting our LifeGroup!
76.  Thankful for a church that honors and appreciates it's volunteers so graciously.
80.  Thanks to my awesome hubby for steppin' up and doin' chores, fixing dinner, dealing with the kids, etc. when I wasn't feeling well.  Even when he didn't feel that great himself.  I am beyond blessed!


If you'd like to join me with your own 1000 Gifts journey and join the Gratitude Community, click here or on the button below.  Have a blessed week!

Multitude Monday, Vol. 5

This week, it's just been about thanking God for the simple things for me.  Thursday started Fall Break for us, with my hubby taking off so we could all spend some time together.  We didn't end up doing some 'big stuff' that I originally wanted to do, but ended up being blessed anyway with a bunch of 'small stuff'.  I think that's part of the lesson of doing this One Thousand Gifts, is finding beauty and gratitude in ways we might have otherwise missed!

53.  New Lifegroup friends

54.  The ambience the autumn sun and falling leaves give the outside of my house

56.  A lazy Fall Break morning!

59.  My first NBA game experience! (via free tickets!)

61.  The sound of falling rain on the roof

63.  Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

65.  Small roadtrip & family time at the pumpkin patch (more free tickets!)

66.  The wide open spaces of the rural Oklahoma countryside

69.  Time spent with friends we don't get to see very often

70.  A few stolen moments to myself to sit and just be quiet

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!