Friday, January 29, 2010

Comfort

As of where I am at this very second, I am comfortable. It's 5:57 a.m. on a wintry Friday morning. I'm sitting by my roaring gas powered fire with a warm cup of coffee. My happiness is completely undeniable. I normally do this every morning (not in this particular setting of course.)
I wake up early.
I enjoy the quiet. I wake up and absorb the silence that I don't always receive during the day. In a world that gets consistently more chaotic and noisy on a day-to-day basis, this quiet is special to me. I look forward to it. It's normally just a short 30 minutes, or perhaps longer on special occasions (no school today! :) but the time adds up. My thoughts are pieces of a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, and this is my half-hour to piece it together. Psalms 46:10 says to "Be still and know that I am God." This time has not only become my hour of undisturbed peace, but also an hour to spend with my sweet Jesus whose favorite tone of voice is a gentle whisper. Isn't there a simple lesson in that? Are the quality of our daily conversations losing their beautiful purpose with the louder our voices get? I've been progressively learning how unimportant shallow daily conversations are becoming. Sure, I know what my best friend ate for lunch today, but do I stop and ask what made her the happiest? Not always, and my goal for the next few weeks is to practice this idea. To dip below the surface, even just for a little while (not consistently of course, that might be intruding and weird to the general population)

On a more ridiculous note,
this is my 10th day of being completely vegan. I've made it thus far! And thus animal product free :) it's all about my 2010 cleansing. Like I said in my previous post, it's important to me to begin this decade with a cleanse. What better way than to lessen my processed, unclean, mass produced in take?

May you all feel comfortable on this wonderful Snow Day,

-K

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Welcome!

Congratulations everyone! It's a new decade! You've made it thus far! May the new beginnings welcome you with wide open arms. It's January 3rd, and it's taken me up until today to really consider this year, as well as this decade. In a deeper sense that is. Of course I've discussed the new decade around friends, making caddy comments, and considering resolutions and what nots. But to think about a brand new decade in depth scares me a little bit. The question, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" truly becomes a reality.

So where do I see myself in 10 years? Better yet, where do I see myself next year? This fall, I accept college, next fall, I accept complete independence. Part of me is giddy with excitement, and the other part is worried about doing my own laundry. But within all this thinking, there is always that still, quiet whisper that tells me there's already a plan lined out for me. So today, I release the next 10 years up to my sweet Jesus and watch as he develops a masterpiece before my very eyes.

With that in mind, I allowed myself to consider how to begin such a huge mile stone (after all, last time I had to consider the next 10 years I was 6 and my goals were to become Mandy Moore, a cheerleader, and live in my Barbie house all at one time- My how times have changed!) I decided to begin with a cleansing. Cleansing my closet, my brain, my body, and my life. I decided to take a break from what I force on myself and live in what God has already provided me. Relationships that take too much work are a thing in the past. (along with hydrogenated oils! :)) Worrying takes too much work, as well as determining my life based on my peers. So I let it go. Of course with all cleansing comes detox. You should not base the end off of the beginning. The first few days bring headaches, cravings, and a little sleepiness. However, once the "3 day hump" is conquered you feel better. You're life is easier and lighter because you are no longer carrying the unnecessary items that fill your mind and soul. So here we go 2010, cleanse me.

My new year's resolutions are to laugh often, take pictures, celebrate and to look for those opportunities on a day to day basis. Isn't that what God wants? For us to wake up and rejoice in him everyday? I resolve to wake up with a good attitude, to say good morning, and to take the time to slowly open my eyes in the morning and not feel so rushed. With rejoicing comes happiness, and with happiness comes simplicity and laughter.

So in close friends, I bring you good tidings of comfort and joy this new year and decade. I hope all of our futures intertwine and I see everyone I love wearing paper glasses that say "2020!" years from now. May this decade be one of love, friendship, and growing up.


-K