Friday, October 2, 2015

choose joy

DISCONTENT // I actually wrote my last post at one o'clock this morning after finishing my paper. I actually took this picture over a month ago. I didn't even do the farewell coffee date for the blogtember challenge that I'd been looking forward to since I started the challenge. It's been raining for like 7 days straight. I'm in the library study room. Again. I haven't done devotions today. I've told people I'll pray for them lately and haven't carried through as I should. I want tea. My alarm didn't go off this morning so I woke up late and couldn't shower and woke up irritable because I only had time for a half a bagel for breakfast and probably looked like death. I didn't have time to print out my paper so I was going to do it in class but then we switched classrooms so I had to go to the library and try to figure it out after class time had started and then I forgot my wallet so I had to go back to the classroom and get a quarter and borrow someone else's quarter and it took forever. My family is getting a cold again and I'm sick of being sick. And also a hurricane is on it's way so it's sure to rain consistently for at least another three days. Plus my face is breaking out. Oh and midterms are next week.

CONTENT // On the other side of things, I chose to stay up later than I had to after finishing my paper, just for self care purposes. And it was actually a really renewing time for me. I turned on a sleep playlist, wrote from my heart, pinned the good stuff, and talked a bit to my lovely blogger friend Evelyn. It felt good and I was happy. The coffee date thing is okay- that was the point of my doing the challenge- not to write every single day, but to be inspired to write more. And I did. I wrote 9 posts in September. I would never have made time for those posts without those prompts. I would have completely neglected you all with my ridiculous schedule, but the truth is when I prioritize and work hard, I can do a lot. Maybe not all, but a lot. Also, I like rain actually. And I love the library actually. And God's grace is sufficient for the many, many, countless times that I fail to keep him first. And I can have tea when I get home and it can be lovely if I make it so. The whole paper thing wasn't as bad as it sounds. I survived. Last week when I was sick I got over it in like two days. So I can chill about being sick. A hurricane provides the perfect opportunity for a destressing, family and Jesus filled weekend at home. I can recharge. And I can study, but I can manage my time and make it the best. About midterms- I'll be okay. And after that is fall break. And a weekend of movie nights, coffee shops, and picnics with friends, face-painting for kids, and the week after that a day trip to the mountains with the fam. Also I bought a cookie today, and we discovered a flawless coffee shop downtown. God is ridiculously good.

I spent all day thinking in discontent. Only when I sat down and wrote out this post did I realize how messed up that worldview was. I started this post not planning on having a paragraph on contentedness. Even when I started writing that second paragraph I was writing for the good of my readers- I didn't want you all to leave depressed! But I didn't realize that I needed it just as much as my readers. Probably more. That's part of why I love the blogging community so much. Sitting down and just starting to write some of these things out clears my thoughts so much. It provides accountability and community and turns my thoughts to Jesus.
Today I choose joy. 


What about YOU? What does your life look like when you evaluate it in these terms? What has the blogging community done for you? And what do you do to destress or relax? Any TV shows I should look into? I'll need some tips for this weekend rained in!

16 comments:

  1. This. All of this. I can just hear your genuine heart in this post and strength in choosing joy in affliction. So much of this resonates with me currently as well. You are a beautiful writer, Olivia!

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    1. Thank you so much, Hailey!! I'm so glad you can relate. It's funny how the little things can build up till you just feel completely overwhelmed by everything. That's when choosing to see all the good in the little things comes in handy. :)

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  2. This is so great. I love it. And hey, I'll be sitting out the hurricane down here in SC, so you're not completely alone. I also have a cold, and I've been having a hard time being content. Thanks for this, Olivia. I totally needed it.

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    1. Did it flood where you live?!?!?!?!?!?! I've been stressing like all weekend.
      Oh, and thank you:) I'm so glad it helped<3

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  3. I love this post so much. Sorry that things have been rough for you lately, hoping that they look up:) Thank you for reminding me to look at the good points in life:)

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    1. Thank you!!! All the little things just tend to build up! I'm so happy to have a break for fall- they always come at the perfect time! It was my completely-sincere pleasure;)

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  4. Choosing joy is one of the hardest yet most rewarding things we can ever do. I don't do it often enough.
    It makes me really happy that you are choosing it. Although, your post also makes me sad cause, I miss that library!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Yes it is!!! Me too- it makes life a lot more pleasant. Isn't it Mebane library just the best?!<3

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  5. "Today I choose joy. < and gosh, what a tough choice is can be sometimes. I love the fact that you didn't plan on writing a paragraph about being content. It's awesome. "A hurricane provides the perfect opportunity for a destressing, family and Jesus filled weekend at home." That's definitely a bright way to look at a hurricane! I hope you all aren't too flooded with rain (flooded in the most exaggerated sense of the word, of course.
    Also cookies and tea are definite destressors. ALSO CHOCOLATE. Need I say more I mean come on.

    peace,
    abbiee

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    1. <3<3<3 We weren't flooded at all, thank God! South Carolina definitely got the worst of it. It did rain steady for a looooong time but it was surprisingly flood-deficient. (what even is that phrase I just made up)
      Duuude yes. I think I maybe had one too many chocolate chip cookies today and definitely too many cups of hot tea in the past week. Fantastic destressors. Thanks Abbie ^-^

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  6. Ooohhh, it can be so easy to fall into the pattern of thinking about all of the things that we would change but can't. I would have more time, not have homework, and I'd be like a Disney Princess who can get woodland creatures to clean my room (although I'm not so sure about having opossums touch my clothes...) But you are so spot on, we need to put our eyes on Jesus and we will see what we truly have all around us, namely His Name!

    And I too experience that perspective-widen feeling when writing a post that turns out to help me closer to Jesus tan maybe everyone else! I love how blogging has made me more aware of how Jesus teaches us all around if only we are ready to learn!

    The Blindspot. That's the TV show to watch! It's very mysterious and intriguing with complex characters and a promising plot! And Alias (on Netflix) is the same and a show that you can't stop watching!

    Princess Hannah fromhttp://graceineverything.blogspot.com/

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    1. So true!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's like exactly where I am right now (especially like the dilemma with wanting woodland creatures to clean my room but worry about the possums too ya know? it's pretty tough). So much easier said than done, but it's always so worth it.
      Yes! That's one of the great things about blogging. It's so good to sit down and start really think about your life and even examine yourself (even if you weren't originally planning on it). It's great.
      Oooh! That sounds like exactly what I look for in a good TV show. And on Netflix! Added bonus. Can't wait to check them out- thanks for the comment and suggestions, Hannah!

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  7. this was such a beautiful post, because 9 times out of ten this happens to me. i get all riled about stupid little things and then Jesus just kind of pulls me out of it and says "LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE". and just wow, the peace God gives is amazing isn't it?

    we used to count our blessings when we were little. i sometimes think that it would benefit adults more than kids to do that. this post proved that.

    "today i choose joy" should be plastered on our walls because that's one heck of a motto that no one should forget.

    i'm squealing because you mentioned me. and so happy i could add to your peaceful time. also, i'm so glad i wasn't able to read this until sunday night because now i feel so ready for monday!!!

    p.s i just watched a cheesy romantic chick-flick called "waiting for forever" and if you're into that kind of thing then yeah... its an option for your rainy days. it gave me feels. and it was cute. the guy was cute. wait, what?

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    1. yes times a million. God's pretty great like that.
      so true. starting out my prayers with just simple straightforward thanksgiving has been one of the most rewarding things. even when i'm feeling cold and hard, it tends to warm my soul and always reminds me of how good my God is.
      YES I've thought of hand-lettering that and taping it up on my mirror. who couldn't use that reminder all the time i mean honestly?
      aw you're so lovely ^-^ so happy you could too- oh and i meant to attach a link to your blog to your name so people could go check it out. ugh- i'll go do it now over a week after i posted it. oops. YAY i'm so glad. choosing joy has got to be just about the hardest on mondays.
      hahahahahaha really almost laughed out loud. i'm on fall break this week so i'll definitely have to check it out- i mean hey if the guy's cute why not?;)

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  8. This is great. I have been so negative lately, and I've been trying to train my mind to think in terms of joy these past few days. A lot of it has to do with consciously acknowledging God and continually praying, per 1st Thessalonians 5. So thanks for sharing this, because you're certainly not alone!

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    1. Ugh, I know it's sooooooooo easy. Yes, so true. 1 Thessalonians is some good stuff. Thank *you* for sharing!! It's good to know I'm not alone in this struggle:)

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