Comparison.

Hello.

So I am sure that a lot of you have heard the expression, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
And I completely agree.

If you compare yourself to the people around you, you will never find happiness in all the things you already have.  This doesn't always have to be material possessions, it can be absolutely anything.  One of the main reasons I think comparison is such a negative habit is because it fosters a sense of envy.

Yet, I probably compare myself more than anyone I know.  I was at brunch the other day and one of my best friends even pointed it out to me.  It's something so simple that even I neglect to accept.

I've said time and time again, and I will continue to say it: we live in a world where it is so simple to look at someone else's life through a screen and just imagine how wonderful their lives must be.  Recently, I've been majorly struggling.  Struggling to find who I am, struggling to find happiness in the little things, struggling not to compare my life to others on social media, struggling not to focus on the future, struggling to find motivation, just struggling.  I have felt sad and alone.  And I am not afraid to admit it because it happens to all of us.

Then I think about how God gave another day to live.  Another opportunity to serve Him.  God, so wonderful, made the mountains and the sea and decided the world needed one of me and one of you.

But, then you think, if He made this world so wonderful why don't I have as much as her or why does that person have less than me?  Why, if everything is so peachy, am I not given the same opportunities as others? Why am I tempted by so much? Why do I fail at so many things? Why do the people around me care so little while they have so many people around them that care so much? Why do I have to work harder than others to achieve the same results? Why does their life seem so perfect while mine is so flawed?

We all have our own battles.  And I promise you that there is nothing in this world that a little faith and hard work cannot fix.  So rather than comparing your journey to someone else, try to fill your heart with gratitude.  If you notice something you don't like, rather than dwelling on it see how you can fix it, pray to God to help you, and have the patience and faith that it will get done.

There will be days where you cannot find an ounce of gratefulness in your heart and others where it comes pouring out of you.  But every day you have to wake up with a grateful heart.  No matter what.

Write your gratitude list in the comments below as well as any requests or post ideas!

A.

Why I Never Quit Blogging.

Hey!

So you guys are all probably wondering why after months of not writing anything I would always come back to blogging.  To be honest, it's not some super awesome reason other than I really love writing.  Blogging for me, was always fun.  It was never a tedious task or something I was forced to do.  Which is why it became something I could put on the backburner.

Oftentimes, I fill my days up with work and studying and lack to plan for having time to do the things I love.  I haven't consistently worked out in months, I do not sew anymore, I don't spend as much time with family and friends, and I neglected to pray as often and block out periods of time in my day specifically dedicated to the Lord.

My life became consumed by school, getting good grades, applying for research, being involved in extracurricular activities, so much so that I would not allow myself enough time to decompress and do things I truly enjoyed.  Not that I don't love learning, but school can oftentimes be a tedious and stressful part of a student's life.

Why am I telling you all of this? There is a lesson.  Just as God took the seventh day to rest after creating the universe, we must too take time to rest.

This spring break has been particularly rough for me.  I find myself staring at a little screen for the majority of the day, watching my schoolmates go to the beach, have brunch, enjoy life.  I felt like I was missing out. I still feel like I am missing out.  I feel lost, confused, upset; you name it and I feel it. 

But blogging is an outlet for me. Writing is an outlet for me.  I used to journal every single night.  I used to write down my prayers or write little poems or just talk about my day and feelings.  And I am writing now at a time where I just feel unsure about everything.

That's why I never quit.  Blogging won't ever be a full-time thing for me, I am going to be an engineer and work in the medical field someday and be a wife and a mother.  But I can always blog while I do all of it.  And if my blog can help even one person, then it is enough for me.

A.