So you know it's true what they say...you don't really appreciate something till it's gone. Now I'm sure someday I will learn this lesson in a deeper way (plus I have already learned this lesson the hard way), but I'm not gonna lie today I was reminded of this lesson in a very superficial way. So early this morning my phone decided to just not work anymore....it would tell me if I had a new text, and if someone called it would let me know, however, I could not answer the call, could not see the text, could not respond to it, and could not make any text. Basically, it was mocking me with the fact that people were trying to reach me and there was nothing I could do about it hahahah
It's kind of a two part thankful post, because 1- I still don't have a phone that works at the moment, but I do know I appreciate my phone when I do have it. Again I know this seems very materialistic of me but it's true, I love talking and texting with my friends during the day and it keeps me entertained. Im not obsessed with technology but I do see its beauty lol.
The second part is that I'm thankful that I can use my ipod as a phone if I choose too. Yes there were a few people who I simply wanted to talk to, but considering the retreat is a day away, there are a lot of people I need to be in contact with texting and calling through out the day to make sure everything is being taken care of and finishing last minute things you know? So im thankful I had a back-up even if it was limited because I had no contacts but I found a way to get a few of them that I needed haha. Plus my mom was worried when I wouldnt answer my phone so when I finally remembered my ipod was also a phone she was thankful to hear that I was ok and nothing was wrong hahah
CHALLENGE: I've said this before but it doesnt hurt to remind you. Don't take things like your phone, or car, or laptop for granted. Yes we live in a society where it is normal for people to have these things everywhere, but that doesnt mean we should act as if they are non important. Think about how much you use these things and im not saying it in a bad way Im just pointing out that technology and our ability to have this technology in our lives is something we should be thankful for. And we should take care of our things and not be spoiled and throw these things around knowing we can "just get another one".....cause maybe you wont be able to. Basically and hopefully on a "deeper" level hahah be thankful for how blessed you are for all that you have and remember that these luxuries like cars (no matter how old) and cell phones (even if it's not the "coolest") are infact luxuries and not everyone necessarily has them.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
My Job and Lent
Today I am thankful for my job haha...yes I know what you're all thinking because EVERYONE has the same reaction.. "YOU WORK??!!??"...
Yes I work part time at this after school thing for elementary kids. I help them with homework do some tutoring and then watch them till their parents pick them up basically a day care. But I am thankful that is where I work becuase these are some of the funniest and sweetest kids ever! They draw pictures for me, when we walk to the park they pick flowers for me and they are honestly great kids. Of course every now and then me or one of the other girls has to "deal" with one or two if they get out of hand or need to be talked to but even then they are still a great kids. And im not gonna lie at first it was weird but now I kinda like being called "Miss Daniela" hahahha even though they are getting to the point where they feel comfortabe enough to just call me Daniela but still...it's all good haha
CHALLENGE: So today's challenge has nothing to do with my story haha. Tomorrow lent starts and I just wanted to say a few things to those of you who like me take it seriously and give something up. First of all, you dont always have to give something up for lent you could also do something for it. As in everyday do a good deed, or go to church every sunday or whatever. Every year I hear what people give up and sometimes I feel like people don't really get the purpose of lent. The purpose is not to help you lose weight. Jesus didn't die on the cross so you could get a 40 day miracle diet and give up a bunch of food. hahah (sorry if that was mean) ha but it's true. I dont care what you give up, but in my personal opinion you should be giving up something that will honestly help better your life in some way nad even though eating better falls under that category the key is that it should also help bring you closer to God and your faith. To me lent is all about our faith and what can we do to make it stronger. What can I give up to help me focus more on my relationship with God. Sure there are a few things im giving up more as a challenge and just for fun, one of then being sarcasm haha but there are also other thinsg im doing this lent to truly help me be a better person in all parts of life uncluding and most important in my faith. So if you're doing lent I challenge you to really think of what maybe be getting in the way of your faith and what can you do or give up this lent to truly work on your faith.
Yes I work part time at this after school thing for elementary kids. I help them with homework do some tutoring and then watch them till their parents pick them up basically a day care. But I am thankful that is where I work becuase these are some of the funniest and sweetest kids ever! They draw pictures for me, when we walk to the park they pick flowers for me and they are honestly great kids. Of course every now and then me or one of the other girls has to "deal" with one or two if they get out of hand or need to be talked to but even then they are still a great kids. And im not gonna lie at first it was weird but now I kinda like being called "Miss Daniela" hahahha even though they are getting to the point where they feel comfortabe enough to just call me Daniela but still...it's all good haha
CHALLENGE: So today's challenge has nothing to do with my story haha. Tomorrow lent starts and I just wanted to say a few things to those of you who like me take it seriously and give something up. First of all, you dont always have to give something up for lent you could also do something for it. As in everyday do a good deed, or go to church every sunday or whatever. Every year I hear what people give up and sometimes I feel like people don't really get the purpose of lent. The purpose is not to help you lose weight. Jesus didn't die on the cross so you could get a 40 day miracle diet and give up a bunch of food. hahah (sorry if that was mean) ha but it's true. I dont care what you give up, but in my personal opinion you should be giving up something that will honestly help better your life in some way nad even though eating better falls under that category the key is that it should also help bring you closer to God and your faith. To me lent is all about our faith and what can we do to make it stronger. What can I give up to help me focus more on my relationship with God. Sure there are a few things im giving up more as a challenge and just for fun, one of then being sarcasm haha but there are also other thinsg im doing this lent to truly help me be a better person in all parts of life uncluding and most important in my faith. So if you're doing lent I challenge you to really think of what maybe be getting in the way of your faith and what can you do or give up this lent to truly work on your faith.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Music Doesn't Get "Old"
Alright so todays post is very light hearted. Well, light hearted however, still very important to me. Today I have to say I am thankful when a friend, or anyone really, introduces me to a different type of music, or a new artist or just something I'd never heard before. But yeah, today I am very thankful and I love it when people introduce me to new music and new artists and the great thing about me (cuz that didnt sound conceded lol) is that I genuinely love all kinds of music INCLUDING country! lol I listen and appreciate ANY type of music if I like the song I like it and I really don't care who sings it. It's not about genre or artist to me...its simply about the song and if i like it and if it calls to me haha. If you look at my ipod you would be so confused and you could not even begin to guess what kind of person owns it cause it has random combination of music but again I love it...always something new to hear.
So if you have a favorite song, artist, or style of music no matter what it is and no matter how many people you know hate it...let me know I really do love hearing new music (and new doesnt mean brand new, if I havnt heard before it's new to me lol)
CHALLENGE: I think todays post is a good example if "it's the little things that count". Hearing a brand new song or experiencing an artist I have never heard before is relatively a small thing, but it makes me really happy to experience new music. It makes me happy and I love it. So remember to appreciate the little things that make you happy. And also, try something new, experiencing new things really is fun and you never know what you might find :]
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Key to Forgiveness
Yes I missed yesterday, but I've come up with this thought. Whenever I miss, just know that I had a good reason and that I will make up for it the next day. I say this also because this weekend will be another weekend that I will not be posting because I will be away. As far as yesterday goes I had a good reason see I was at church all day at this working retreat getting all the things ready for the actual retreat this weekend and by the time I got home it was like 11:52 and what I was thankful for, especially yesterday, was way to important to me to just throw it together in 8 minutes.
So today and yesterday's blog is about how Im thankful for friendship. Now I have a lot of friends, and they are all kinds of friends. The girls I work with are my friends but well I only see them at work hahha but they still my friends. Friends from school, friends from old schools like high school or elementary who I still keep in touch with. Friends who I hang out and have fun with, and ok I dont know if this is just me, but every now and then I meet someone who I guess is just exactly like me (as far as sarcasm and making everything funny) and so literally not a single word that we say to each other is serious at all! From the second we see each other till we leave and on fb or txt....ALWAYS messin and bein mean to each other. I dont think I would consider these people "friends" cuz we never have friend moments but I just think it's funny when I mhave people like that in my life hahhaha
But last night I was reminded of one of the BEST type of friends I have....the kind of friends that you can cry with.....And what means more to me, the kind of friends that you can cry with and then within minutes be back to laughing and messing with each other and acting like "no we didnt just have a moment and cry and remind each other how much we love each other" lol....but forever and always those moments even if you don't talk about them specifically again, will always be in your heart and you'll always know who you can really count on when you need someone to talk to, or someone to hold you, or someone to pray for/with you.
The second thing I'm thankful for, is still talking about friends but this time it's more specific to what my friends tell me. Im thankful to have friends who love me and truly want to help me when I need help. Im thankful that yesterday one of my friends reminded me that the most important part in moving on with your life after you have made a mistake, is to forgive yourself for it. Of course you should be sorry and apologize, but after you've apologized and even after the person has forgiven you , we still sometimes beat ourselves up for what we did. I'm thankful I was reminded of this, because we all have those things on our conscious that always seem to bug us but we need to let them go and accept that we did wrong but that we are sorry and let ourselves move on from our own mistakes.
CHALLENGE: We all have things in our past and in our lives that we may not be particularly proud of, and Im talking about things we have done or caused. Or situations that we can't really let go of. Im not gonna tell you to let it go cause I know it's not that easy. But I will challenge you to try to let it go, and realize that the past is over and you cant go back to it anymore. You can only try your hardest to make right now the best and to make decisions to be a good person right now. One of the things I learned yesterday was that if we have faith God will always forgive us and all we can do is truly want to change for the better, but usually we are the ones that can not forgive ourselves. We need to forgive ourselves sometimes and allow ourselves to move on and be better people. Start over again.
So today and yesterday's blog is about how Im thankful for friendship. Now I have a lot of friends, and they are all kinds of friends. The girls I work with are my friends but well I only see them at work hahha but they still my friends. Friends from school, friends from old schools like high school or elementary who I still keep in touch with. Friends who I hang out and have fun with, and ok I dont know if this is just me, but every now and then I meet someone who I guess is just exactly like me (as far as sarcasm and making everything funny) and so literally not a single word that we say to each other is serious at all! From the second we see each other till we leave and on fb or txt....ALWAYS messin and bein mean to each other. I dont think I would consider these people "friends" cuz we never have friend moments but I just think it's funny when I mhave people like that in my life hahhaha
But last night I was reminded of one of the BEST type of friends I have....the kind of friends that you can cry with.....And what means more to me, the kind of friends that you can cry with and then within minutes be back to laughing and messing with each other and acting like "no we didnt just have a moment and cry and remind each other how much we love each other" lol....but forever and always those moments even if you don't talk about them specifically again, will always be in your heart and you'll always know who you can really count on when you need someone to talk to, or someone to hold you, or someone to pray for/with you.
The second thing I'm thankful for, is still talking about friends but this time it's more specific to what my friends tell me. Im thankful to have friends who love me and truly want to help me when I need help. Im thankful that yesterday one of my friends reminded me that the most important part in moving on with your life after you have made a mistake, is to forgive yourself for it. Of course you should be sorry and apologize, but after you've apologized and even after the person has forgiven you , we still sometimes beat ourselves up for what we did. I'm thankful I was reminded of this, because we all have those things on our conscious that always seem to bug us but we need to let them go and accept that we did wrong but that we are sorry and let ourselves move on from our own mistakes.
CHALLENGE: We all have things in our past and in our lives that we may not be particularly proud of, and Im talking about things we have done or caused. Or situations that we can't really let go of. Im not gonna tell you to let it go cause I know it's not that easy. But I will challenge you to try to let it go, and realize that the past is over and you cant go back to it anymore. You can only try your hardest to make right now the best and to make decisions to be a good person right now. One of the things I learned yesterday was that if we have faith God will always forgive us and all we can do is truly want to change for the better, but usually we are the ones that can not forgive ourselves. We need to forgive ourselves sometimes and allow ourselves to move on and be better people. Start over again.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Every Year
....Tomorrow I have to wake up at 5:30 am to go to my church hall to help make breakfast for about 30 or so peer leaders. I have to be there from 7am till 10pm making posters, directing skits and a bunch of work that needs to be done before the retreat next week. I'm sure it's gonna be a roller coaster of emotions and tempers at times hahah, we're gonna realize something isnt working and people might get a little stressed, and I will be BEYOND tired by the time I get home.....I am actually thankful for all of this lol
Every year a week before the retreat we have this working retreat which is exactly what I just explained. It's mentally and physically draining but honestly it also is a lot of fun...in it's own way I guess hahaha. The past 3 weeks we've been having meetings once a week and yes a lot of things have been getting done but to be completely honest it's been more planning and figuring out what needs to be done, however tomorrow will be actually doing what needs to be done. To me the meetings are fun and way to get use to working with each other and to build that trust and friendship but tomorrow I actualy feel productive and accomplished hahaha
All I know is that every year I hear people, INCLUDING MYSELF, complain about how they dont wanna wake up so early and be there ALL DAY making posters, practicing skits over and over and over again, and how tired they are during the day and they just wanna nap (how many of you are scared to go tomorrow now?? lol)...but at the end of the day ALWAYS!...it all comes together and we're thankful for the time together and I'm not sure how to explain but, I mean put it this way...I always come back, and so do A LOT of other people. So tomorrow will be a tiring day and I explain how hard it's gonna be to hopefuly also make you think that if it's so hard and tiring WHY GO THROUGH WITH IT!?.....well exactly what I want people to think about...why? Because it's worth it to see how amazing the retreat turns out, its worth it to see all the peer leaders especially the new ones experience the behind the scenes to their retreat. And to me the biggest reason.......spending time with these people always makes me happy, we're bonded through faith and all that we've been through together and the love I have for what I do...causes me to forget how tired I was from doing this the year before so I come back every year :]
CHALLENGE: There are things or maybe even people in our lives that have this incredible ability to make us go crazy sometimes....and yet we continue to love them and help them and voluntarily be around them. Usually it's because we love them enough that it's ok if they drive us insane. All the great times we have with them, completely over power any moments of uneasiness. So the next time you get stressed or frustrated or irritated by someone you love....remember why you love them, breathe and get over it hahaha i knwo it's ahrder than that but you get what I mean haha
Every year a week before the retreat we have this working retreat which is exactly what I just explained. It's mentally and physically draining but honestly it also is a lot of fun...in it's own way I guess hahaha. The past 3 weeks we've been having meetings once a week and yes a lot of things have been getting done but to be completely honest it's been more planning and figuring out what needs to be done, however tomorrow will be actually doing what needs to be done. To me the meetings are fun and way to get use to working with each other and to build that trust and friendship but tomorrow I actualy feel productive and accomplished hahaha
All I know is that every year I hear people, INCLUDING MYSELF, complain about how they dont wanna wake up so early and be there ALL DAY making posters, practicing skits over and over and over again, and how tired they are during the day and they just wanna nap (how many of you are scared to go tomorrow now?? lol)...but at the end of the day ALWAYS!...it all comes together and we're thankful for the time together and I'm not sure how to explain but, I mean put it this way...I always come back, and so do A LOT of other people. So tomorrow will be a tiring day and I explain how hard it's gonna be to hopefuly also make you think that if it's so hard and tiring WHY GO THROUGH WITH IT!?.....well exactly what I want people to think about...why? Because it's worth it to see how amazing the retreat turns out, its worth it to see all the peer leaders especially the new ones experience the behind the scenes to their retreat. And to me the biggest reason.......spending time with these people always makes me happy, we're bonded through faith and all that we've been through together and the love I have for what I do...causes me to forget how tired I was from doing this the year before so I come back every year :]
CHALLENGE: There are things or maybe even people in our lives that have this incredible ability to make us go crazy sometimes....and yet we continue to love them and help them and voluntarily be around them. Usually it's because we love them enough that it's ok if they drive us insane. All the great times we have with them, completely over power any moments of uneasiness. So the next time you get stressed or frustrated or irritated by someone you love....remember why you love them, breathe and get over it hahaha i knwo it's ahrder than that but you get what I mean haha
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Signs of Hope
Today in the midst of confusion and regret and not really knowing if I'm making all the right decisions, I am thankful for the little signs God sends us that let us know that we're doing SOMETHING right..and to just keep on going.
You know how when you're trying to help but you're not sure if you're actually helping or just making thinsg worse. And then randomly someone comes up to you and says thank you cause you helped them a lot and you get really happy cause you realize you are doing something right...yeah I love those moments haha
I do these retreats and stuff that I've been talking about because I love helping people and it's just amazing to know what someone has gone through and see them change and grow and these retreats are just a constant reminder of what life is really about and being so close to my faith during these times (I mean I try to always stay close to my faith but during retreat time it definitley is enhanced lol ) is honestly a great feeling to me. But I don't really help out on these retreats or at my church for any other reason other than I want to help someone open their eyes to how beautiful life is really. You don't do this expecting anything in return and honestly I do it to help out the other people create the retreat but I never really go into these things thinking "im gonna help someone" like I dont know I just do what I do haha
Tonight we had to answer the questions in who do you see God's love and in who do you see God's work...and people came up to me afterwards and told me that I was their answer to these questions, and I love evryone and I'm friends with everyone there but it was people who I just had no clue thought of me that way hahha it was cool to hear that though and again was a good reminder that Im doing something good there and that this is exactly where I need to be rigth now :]
CHALLENGE: Maybe some of you already have a time in your mind where something like this happened to you. And then theres some of you who are tempted to feel bad because you feel you've never gotten a sign like this. But I challenge you to think, maybe you just dont want to accept the sign sometimes. When you're feeling lost, and you want a sign hey sometimes you gotta ask for the sign but more importantly you have to be open to it and be able to recognize it when it comes.
You know how when you're trying to help but you're not sure if you're actually helping or just making thinsg worse. And then randomly someone comes up to you and says thank you cause you helped them a lot and you get really happy cause you realize you are doing something right...yeah I love those moments haha
I do these retreats and stuff that I've been talking about because I love helping people and it's just amazing to know what someone has gone through and see them change and grow and these retreats are just a constant reminder of what life is really about and being so close to my faith during these times (I mean I try to always stay close to my faith but during retreat time it definitley is enhanced lol ) is honestly a great feeling to me. But I don't really help out on these retreats or at my church for any other reason other than I want to help someone open their eyes to how beautiful life is really. You don't do this expecting anything in return and honestly I do it to help out the other people create the retreat but I never really go into these things thinking "im gonna help someone" like I dont know I just do what I do haha
Tonight we had to answer the questions in who do you see God's love and in who do you see God's work...and people came up to me afterwards and told me that I was their answer to these questions, and I love evryone and I'm friends with everyone there but it was people who I just had no clue thought of me that way hahha it was cool to hear that though and again was a good reminder that Im doing something good there and that this is exactly where I need to be rigth now :]
CHALLENGE: Maybe some of you already have a time in your mind where something like this happened to you. And then theres some of you who are tempted to feel bad because you feel you've never gotten a sign like this. But I challenge you to think, maybe you just dont want to accept the sign sometimes. When you're feeling lost, and you want a sign hey sometimes you gotta ask for the sign but more importantly you have to be open to it and be able to recognize it when it comes.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Realizing what's important
You know those times where you're feeling a certain way and you cant quite explain it and then that perfect song starts playing?? hahha yeah I love those moments. Whether it's your to happy for words or you're sad, or you're just not exactly sure what you are but the second that perfect song starts playing...everything seems to make sense again, even if it's only for those few minutes the song is playing.
That kind of happened today. Lately a lot of things have been happening (not all necessarily bad) but just a lot is happening. A lot of things that I don't really know the answer to, or how to solve them and that frustrates me even more! It's kind of been one of those weeks or few weeks where everything seems to be going a little out of wack, and everyone seems on edge and I'm honestly not the dramatic kind to say "my world is falling apart"..cause it's not but a lot of things seem to be going wrong one after the other and its stressful at times. I have felt like "removing" myself from the situation (as in being around people) might be the best option to get away from the chaos/drama, but then I realized something.
Now if you've heard this song there is no need to expain any further but for those that maybe havn't. Listen to the song. "Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand. What you've been out there searching for forever is in your hand. And when you figure out Love is all that matters after all, it sure makes everything else seem so small"......We give problems way more attention and importance than they deserve. I love this song because not only does it remind me whats important in my own life but it kind of has the message Im trying to show through this blog. When you realize what is really important, all the good things in your life whether it be people or whatever, everything else that isnt "good" does not really matter much as long as you focus on the good. "what you got if you aint got love, the kind that you just want to give away"...removing myself from the situation would mean removing myself from people I love, people that love me and would also mean "not caring"....and if I cant love and care about my friends then really, I have nothing. "I know it's hard on a rainy day, you wanna shut the world out and just be left alone, but dont run out on your faith"....this I was definitly feeling a lot today! Like I just needed to get away for a while but again that would require leaving people that honeslty would be the only ones who could make me feel stress-free again. My faith, family and my friends are the what matters the most, and my faith will always get me through hard times.
Hearing this song today really made me realize that all these little things that seem to keep going wrong, are nothing but little bumps in the road. And that the answer is never to run away from my faith or my friends, because in the end they are the ones that make everything ok again. They are what's important in my life.
CHALLENGE: I could go through each and every single line in this song and explain why it is amazing but instead I'll have you listen to it and hopefully you'll get the same message. It's ok to be stressed out but don't push away your faith or your loved ones. And everynow and then maybe you'll realize that this HUGE problem that you're letting yourself get wrapped up in is really only a grain of sand. Realize what's important. Have a little faith.
That kind of happened today. Lately a lot of things have been happening (not all necessarily bad) but just a lot is happening. A lot of things that I don't really know the answer to, or how to solve them and that frustrates me even more! It's kind of been one of those weeks or few weeks where everything seems to be going a little out of wack, and everyone seems on edge and I'm honestly not the dramatic kind to say "my world is falling apart"..cause it's not but a lot of things seem to be going wrong one after the other and its stressful at times. I have felt like "removing" myself from the situation (as in being around people) might be the best option to get away from the chaos/drama, but then I realized something.
I have a lot of random burnt CD's with no name in them so I have no clue what songs are on them and i decided to try to figure some out today and when i put on the first CD it had the song "So Small" by Carrie Underwood.
Hearing this song today really made me realize that all these little things that seem to keep going wrong, are nothing but little bumps in the road. And that the answer is never to run away from my faith or my friends, because in the end they are the ones that make everything ok again. They are what's important in my life.
CHALLENGE: I could go through each and every single line in this song and explain why it is amazing but instead I'll have you listen to it and hopefully you'll get the same message. It's ok to be stressed out but don't push away your faith or your loved ones. And everynow and then maybe you'll realize that this HUGE problem that you're letting yourself get wrapped up in is really only a grain of sand. Realize what's important. Have a little faith.
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