"When You Stop Growing, You Start Dying"

"When you stop growing, you start dying"-that is one of my favorite things Grandad has ever said to me. We are constantly growing, changing, and learning. I think it is easy for our growth to sneak up on us. Most of our growth and change are little things that happen very slowly. Because of my work, I have the privilege of experiencing others' growth and change. Over a few sessions, I see my clients taking steps toward their goals and growth. It is absolutely one of my favorite things to watch. I got to experience that today as well. One of my brother's friends is back from his mission to Costa Rica and he invited us to his church where he spoke about his trip. As he was up there speaking, I was amazed at the growth I saw. I hadn't seen him in two years so his growth was so evident. I could really tell the time spent there was a time of maturity, where he strengthened his faith and shared his faith.

Growth can be so deceptive. We can go through life just thinking it's another boring Monday but then a few years pass and you realize you aren't the same person you were three years ago.The other day I was going through old cards and letter and I found a letter I had written to myself when I was 15 years old. As I was reading (and laughing) it was evident to me how much I've grown in nine years. I'm not the same girl who was timid and adjusting to high school consumed with the dramas of a fifteen year old.  I've also always been one to journal (which I highly recommend by the way-it's good for the soul) I looked back at posts from a few years ago and I remembered where I was at that point in my life and what lessons I was learning at the time. It can be a huge eye opener.

Each experience that we have in life whether big or small helps our growth. We figure out who we want to be, what we want to stand for, and what direction we want to go. I think the trick is just being aware and conscious of our growth and the person we're becoming. Feed your soul. Grow and become something. Never stop striving. Just make sure you like the person you're becoming.

TGIF

I don't know about y'all, but I am so glad it is Friday. Although it was my full intention to post today, my brain has already shut down for the day. So instead I thought I would just share quotes that I have liked lately. Enjoy!

Counseling humor anyone?

Hope y'all enjoyed those! Have a wonderful weekend! 

Take a breather.

Well I don't know about everyone else, but I've been an absolute stress ball lately. I feel as though I've been going 90 to nothing for the past several weeks. I'm enjoying my internship so much and I've been busy with a lot of fun things but it still has been producing a lot of stress in my life. It's the kind of stress where you can't turn your mind off even when you have a chance to yourself.

As I've gotten older, I have become able to recognize my signs that I'm stressed. I have headaches, I don't sleep well at night, I get irritable, etc. Well this weekend all of those things just started piling up on me.

Luckily on Sunday, I had absolutely nothing on my calendar. So guess what I did? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Minus having a friday night lights marathon in my sweats while cuddling my dogs. It was marvelous. Today I can luckily say that I'm refreshed and ready to conquer my to do list and this week with a newfound energy.

I can get so wrapped up in this busy fast paced world with my focus on conquering to do lists that I need to take time for me. I have the type of personality that I need alone time. I need time to relax and rejuvenate or I will be not fun to be around.

I encourage you to know yourself, know your body, your personality and if it is telling you to relax then relax! Even if you think you don't have time. Make time for yourself. Get extra sleep. Lay on the couch. Once you take some time for yourself, you'll have more time for your to-do list.

Courtesy of SELF magazine

I need to take a lesson from Sully on how to relax. 

Sully helped my dad celebrate his birthday.

Happy Birthday Daddy

If you know me pretty well, you know I make a big deal out of birthdays. Well today is an especially big one because it's my dad's 50th!

Well this entry is dedicated to him. I know a few posts ago I shared excerpts of a letter that he had written me which had words of wisdom. Today I'm going to share some qualities and things I've learned about him by just being in his presence the last 24 years. :)

1. Always try new things. My dad loves learning new things. A few years ago, he decided he wanted to learn how to become a football official. He studied and learned how do it and has slowly worked his way up to calling varsity games for 5A schools. He has found a hobby he loves just by trying something new.

2. Always do your best. If my dad decides he is going to do something he ALWAYS does his best. He tries to do his best with football every game, in work, and doing things for others. Over the years he has gently reminded me to do my best in whatever I do. (I tend to do things quickly just to get them out of the way)

3. Never take yourself too seriously. My dad loves to crack jokes. He is seriously one of the funniest people I know. I love that we have a relationship that we can laugh and joke with each other. He never ceases to make me laugh. He has no problem acting silly anywhere and he just brightens up a room.

4. Keep things in perspective. One of my favorite phrases that my dad has said to me over the years is "What's the worst thing that could happen?" I tend to be a worry wart and he has kept me grounded with that phrase. Usually the worst thing isn't even that bad and that would be a problem that we could conquer.

5. Put family first. I'm so lucky to have a dad that makes an effort to spend time with his family. I love our friday morning starbucks dates where I talk his ear off about everything under the sun. He always makes an effort to have breakfast with his brother and stop by his parents house. He is always there to listen, support, and encourage.

I could go on and on but I have to be in Dallas in a bit and my sweatpants and no make up won't cut it. Those are just a few of the qualities that I admire about him and I am very very blessed to have my daddy in my life.

Happy 50th!

We are young.

So, I've started going to this new church with Blair on Tuesday nights. It's in Dallas and it is where two thousand twenty somethings from all the metroplex gather. It's really neat. Anyways, since I just started going I got the tail end of the series they have been going through. From what I can tell, it has been focused on people my age and their convictions and characteristics and challenging some of them.

Last night was the last night for the series. It mainly circled around the fact that we are young adults and what that means and how now is the perfect time to make a difference for ourselves and for others. It was really awesome. If you want to check out the podcasts they are right here. http://www.theporchdallas.com/media/ I highly recommend it.

As any good message should, it really got my wheels turning last night. He said a few things that really stuck out to me. The first one was "You'll never have more time than you do now." At first I was thinking, "Is that a joke?!".  I have internship, friends, family, me-time, school, etc to worry about!! But I thought of it more and thought of the phrase, "Right now, you're as old as you'll ever be and as young as you'll ever be." Time is slipping by y'all. Life is short. Right now we are in the prime of our lives. We are old enough to live out our dreams but still young enough to have the energy to do so.

He also made a point last night that at almost every historical revolution or great awakening, right in the center are young adults passionate about their cause. It really made me evaluate my life and the direction it is going. I think it is easy for us in this time in our lives to get wrapped up in "figuring things out" or just talking about things saying "Someday I'll do that." The thing is though during this time life happens. We get busy and that "someday" we talked about will never happen.

Like I said, it really helped me think about what I've been living passionately for and what kind of a difference I wanted to make on this world. Just something to think about.

What are you passionate about? Go do it!

Courage

When I was growing up, when I heard the word "courage" I immediately thought of knight in shining armor someone strong who literally fought for what they wanted. As I've gotten older, I've realized that courage comes in all shapes and sizes. I also have learned to re-examine my definition.

At my internship, I see kids who are incredibly brave facing remarkable adversity and having enough courage to talk to a complete stranger about it. I see friends who have the courage to pursue their dreams or the courage to make a change and although they are scared and unsure, they make that leap and go for it. I've seen it in my parents who in the middle of a tragedy had the courage to stay strong and lean on each other for support. I've also found some courage in myself.

The thing is though, I think we all have courage in us. And I think we all will to come to a point in our life where we're going to have to use it and we'll probably have to use it more than once. We may all display it in different ways. One person may literally decide to go fight for our freedom while another person has the courage to stand up for themselves. The next person may have the courage to make a hard decision.Another person may have the courage to make that big change while another person may have the courage not to let their circumstances define them but to empower them. Whenever that time comes for you, I hope you find your courage. It's there waiting for you.

One of Tyler's favorite quotes

Changing Seasons

I have a confession to make:
I'm a little obsessed with gourds and pumpkins. I have to buy them every year. I just love their ugly beauty if that makes sense. They're covered in warts and all different shapes and sizes but I think they are just so beautiful.

Two of my favorite things happened this weekend:
It rained ALL day and got chilly (er)
I got some gourds and pumpkins.

It is officially fall. At the risk of sounding like "that girl" who says she loves the fall and pumpkin spice lattes, hocus pocus, and boot weather (which I am and I do love all of those things),  if you had asked me in the past what my favorite season was, I would have never told you fall. It for some reason just got swept away in the busyness of starting a new school year and all of the activities that went along with it. I think I've had a change of heart lately.

Recently fall has just given me a breath of fresh air. I feel calmer and more at peace. I can sit on my porch swing or take Chrissy for a walk and clear my head. I can go football games or festivals and enjoy spending time with those around me. I can decorate my house with gourds and pumpkins which bring me joy.

Basically, I get to do a lot of things I enjoy that help me stay grounded and bring me peace. It is absolutely what I needed lately. I hope this new season can bring something good for you as well. The start of a new season always signals change so whether you want to make a big change, small change, make new memories, find peace, now may be the perfect time to start.