what are we doing with our lives?
really. are we doing what matters? are we spending time with the right things and ignoring the wasteful things? are we stressing over ridiculous things when greater things have yet to come? I'm stumped by this question lately and my only prayer is that this begins to burden your heart in the same way that is has burdened mine.
It's easy, really easy, to get caught up in the routines of our lives. We all fall victims to it: wake up, shower, get dressed, go to class/work, eat some lunch, back to class/work, go home, do mindless things (like watch tv, scroll through facebook to hear about lives that you don't really care about, eat some unhealthy dinner), fall asleep, and repeat.
Because routine is dangerous, we need to put the emergency brake on our lives. We're slowly (because it's a long process to the mundane world) and quickly (because it'll happen quicker than you'll realize) driving ourselves into the town of Burntout. We all fall victims to this, too: waking up one day and thinking, "I need some adventure." We crave change. We crave new. Something crazy, something exciting, something wild. Maybe it's just me, but this happens nearly daily.
With that said, here's a list of 19 things that I think we need to rediscover the art of, make time for, and become content with.
1. Breakfast. Make time to eat breakfast. And I don't mean swinging through the McDonald's drive-thru when you just happen to wind up with an extra ten minutes before work and I definitely don't mean skipping breakfast. But really, truly sitting down to enjoy your breakfast. Taste, rather than inhale. Prepare your mind for the day. When we get going in the constant state of go-go-go, we lose sight of calm stuff.
2. Stop when the light is only yellow. Sure, the cars behind you might honk horns and roll their eyes, but I think you owe it to yourself (and quite frankly, to the impatient drivers behind you, even if it's me) to take a break (or to make them take a break). Instead of speeding up ten mph, slow down and calm down.
3. Dig through your sock drawer for those fuzzy socks. You need a laugh and smile and be happy and fuzzy socks help.
4. Make time to sip hot drinks with cool people. Starbucks is open a lot. Make time to sit with people that care about you.
5. Choose the good book over studying. College degrees and work are important, but so is literature.
6. Speaking of literature, take time to appreciate words. Read quotes, read poems, read anything and everything. Street signs, billboards, advertisements, dusty books in your bookshelf, forgotten magazines under your bed.
7. Eat sweets. Lots of sweets. Gain some weight, do what you want. When you leave, your body doesn't go with you. Be happy.
8. Ask for what you deserve. You're not invalid in knowing that you deserve better. Don't hold back. Your happiness matters.
9. Discuss those hard topics. And be passionate about what you believe in. If you're struggling with how someone is treating you, be able and willing to debate your point and hold your ground. Your opinions matter. Talk and talk and talk.
10. Visit home-the place where your heart lies- way too often. Twice in one week if necessary. You owe it to yourself to make your heart happy.
11. Buy the purse that's $5 on clearance. Buy the shoes that are only $8 and the only pair in your size. It's not bad to spend money on yourself.
12. Get a tattoo. Pierce something. Dye your hair. Cut your hair. Wear that weird outfit. Be individual and be different. If you're blessed enough with the ability to be different (which we all are. Jeremiah 1:5), then why do we try so hard to be "normal"? What is normal anyway?
13. Don't think too much. Often times, trying to reason for things that we don't have a totally clear head on is what screws us up. It's okay to not understand why you're doing something. Use wisdom.
14. Make time to physically see people. Even if it means driving a long way or rearranging your whole routine (that isn't worth anything anyway) to do it, make it happen. It'll mean a lot to you and it'll mean a lot to them.
15. Snapchat your least attractive face. We all know you're beautiful anyway.
16. Write. Write words and thoughts and notes and letters and reminders (both for yourself and for others) and draw and doodle and scribble. This is a forgotten art.
17. Buy yourself some flowers. It's not pathetic, it's considering yourself worth it.
18. Relax. Just chill. Take a moment to slow the heck down.
19. think deeply (but not overly). love hard. pray a lot. forgive often. show grace. be kind. laugh and laugh and laugh. take a deep breath. be ridiculous. use your imagination. tell yourself that it'll be okay. read articles. love the good in people.
really, just make yourself happy. remember what matters (YOU). don't feel bad if you don't think you should. don't say sorry if you're not. make friends. make love. make happiness. and never ever forget that you're worth it.
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