{Manic} Monday

Mondays are such long crazy busy days for me. 

Today was the same...

however after the craziness of life the last week today just felt so different

I was more like manic Monday

Just Monday

Another day 

Another set of choices

Another set of interactions

Another opportunity

Another chance

I have never felt so cared for and supported in a time of extreme uneasiness and confusion in my life

It still blows my mind how I can be vulnerable writing in this blog but in my day to day life & even intimate interactions with close friends...it is something I struggle with big time.

Slowly but surely I am regaining confidence in my faith & after spending years being so off and on 

I have never felt so strongly about my beliefs 

My mind has been racing non stop and it all caught up with me yesterday and I had a total meltdown...

I have had these moments before...feeling completely drained 

& at a loss for words to even express daily thoughts. 

In these moments I used to have very defeating thoughts and would try to just push through 

on my own 

Not smart

Last night was so different..

ever been lucky enough to have someone around you caring for you, encouraging you, and simply investing into your life to the point where you literally do not know what to say in return???

If you have, man it is truly amazing...

Last night was one of those times...but times like a million

All I can say is thank you

Or better yet...nothing at all

Let my actions speak louder then words

I am so encouraged. 

My friends are more like close family & I am truly blessed

& now my prayer is to be able to offer this kind of encouragement to others 

Pride

ugh, what a nasty thing. I struggle with pride.

I have even heard it from people I love that they see me as being prideful...

man

not something I ever want to hear. 

Our society encourages this prideful outlook on pretty much everything

It is so easy to get sucked into it

Humbleness

I thought I was good at being humble. hm..very prideful thinking huh. 

I think society looks at humbleness at being a huge weakness

I think society is killing itself with this thought... 

In reality...people (including myself) would benefit & does benefit

SO much more from embracing & practicing humbleness. 

Therefore...here is one of my most vulnerable posts

(and an attempt to practice humbleness)

One of my favorite blogs is Casey Wiegands

Casey is so open in her blog & it is why I was drawn to it in the first place

I remember spending hours at a time just reading everything

all of her struggles, happy times, high & lows of life, etc...

After hours of well...creeping I guess...I felt like I had known her my whole life 

& not just known... but really knew her...everything...I realized how hard it is to even 

really know the people i'm around everyday including family.

I feel like my mind thinks very similarly to Casey, I relate to her so much

 & am so inspired by her boldness 

That is the one thing I have not had...but it is time to get over my pride and be bold

My hope & prayer is to be as open as possible to lead a life following & mimicking Christ 

I might have felt this over and over again 

but here it is...out in the open...

 Any other time in my life I would be extremely concerned about the opinions of various friends...family members...just people in general...

Not anymore

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

In everything give thanks...

Source: cheepideas.com via Sue on Pinterest

With Thanksgiving right around the corner in the U.S., it has been the topic on my mind the last few days. While I'll be making my way through Ireland this year for the Holiday...friends and family back home will be gathering to celebrate (&indulge) together...I'm a little jealous of this, it will be the first time I am away for this holiday..but that brings me around to my point. Isn't amazing how ungrateful we (myself & people in general) can be despite all of the amazing things we have in our life!? I can't get over how much complaining I have heard from girls on this trip & yes I have participated in it at times but I am constantly stopping myself to put things into perspective. Where we are right now and what we are doing is all on purpose and we should embrace it and be thankful.

I have never been more thankful in my life then while I have been in Italy...I find myself thanking God on a daily basis for things that back in the U.S. I wouldn't think twice about. This holiday I do love but also kind of hate at the same time because it seems like this is the one day that most people stop and decide it is time to be thankful. I have found that when I am in a bad mood, or frustrated...I have to take a second to calm down (go for a walk/run, take a deep breathe etc..) and I instantly make myself think of three things I am thankful for right then and there. Doing this instantly changes my state of mind and I can see a bigger picture instead of focusing on the minor details I am frustrated with. As a result I am a much happier person in general and a way more pleasant person to be around...no one wants to be surrounded by people who complain all the time.

I am thankful for many things & there is not enough time or room to begin to fit it all on this page but from now on in every post until I get back to the U.S. I will include something I am thankful for, here is today's...

I'm off to Ireland tomorrow !!!

Going to tour Dublin, see the P.S. I Love You bridge, visit Doolin, then Cork to see the cliffs, and end back in Dublin. I'm sure there will be many pub visits and amazing scenery...and maybe a future hubbs!? haha kidding-kind of.

Have a safe and happy holiday...

Happy Thanksgiving =]