7 Ways to Love Yourself

Some days, it seems you can't do anything right. You feel like you're a terrible person, right? But God didn't make you like that. You are His beloved child and He wants you to know that. And those days when you just aren't feeling it? It's okay. You can pick yourself back up and start again. In fact, there are some ways to help you get back up easier.

1. Pray

Take a break and just have some time with God. Find a quiet haven, read scripture, and pray. Seek to do His will in all you do.

2. Think Good Thoughts

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." -Philippians 4:8

Restart with some good, positive thoughts. You will not only feel better about yourself, but also everything else.

3. Get Organized

Clean your space, write lists, put your life back together. Start again with a clean heart and a clean room.

4. Work Hard

Go the extra mile, own the challenge. And remember that, (Philippians 4:13), "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." And if you fail, it's okay. Start over and try again. It feels much more wholesome to try and fail than to give-half effort and fail. You'll find yourself appreciating your gifts a lot more, and therefore learning to love yourself.

5. Be Kind to Everyone

And that means everyone. Everyone is God's magnificent creation. If you don't love others, how can you love yourself, not to mention God?

6. Have Patience

Remember that life isn't meant to rush through. If you are, say, stuck in a traffic jam on your way to an appointment, remember that it won't go any quicker getting annoyed about it. Try to appreciate what is around you and have patience.

7. Say Kind Things

Don't gossip. Refer back to number 2 on this list. If you concentrate on the good in others, you can also find the good in yourself. 

But lastly, 

Let All Your Things Be Done in Charity (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Do everything in love, and remember to love God & others before yourself. The love of yourself will just come naturally after remembering others first.

Hooray for Homecoming

...Or something. The day where I forgot about pretty much everything I was supposed to be keeping track of or remembering. Including wearing school colors for school pride day. Thank you, my dear friend and locker neighbor for providing me with the emergency graduation gown so I could frolic amongst my fellow violently purple bison. Thank you.

But really. My head was not completely there today. But it has been an interesting homecoming week. I would have pictures of my own, but I don't feel like worrying about my camera all day at school, and my phone camera is too much work. 

Anyway.  

Class color day. Yay for yellow: the color that clashes with itself and nobody really owns.

I'm going to miss this class when it's over. English is the best. These people have been my English & social studies class for the last three years, this being the fourth. So we might seem like a decently normal group in there, but we all really know we're more like...

...yeah. (Photo creds to my cool English teacher on those.)

Moving on...

Kudos to my lovely science teacher for getting into complete old-lady character for Whippersnapper Wednesday, and keeping "Eunice" alive for the entire class period. Seriously, it was hilarious. I hope "Eunice" comes back again to sub soon. ;)

Now there's a picture worth raising your cap for. Like my classmate in the near-center of the back row. Ha.

Science is also pretty cool. (Oh, and photo creds to some random student that was walking by and was asked to take the picture so my amazing teacher could join us.)

Alright, now I'm going to go bury myself in hot chocolate & Lord of the Rings for the rest of the evening. And maybe some homework. Have a stellar weekend, everyone!

Sunday Songs | SHZ #560

Here as a flick'ring candle / has been my life of faith;

often my footsteps stumble / and waver on the way.

But from the open fountain / which freely flows in Zion

new strength I here receive.

SHZ #560, verse 1.

Written: Samuel Lehtola 1969/ revised SRK 1976

Translated: Unknown 1976/ revised SHZ 2008

Effort Feels So Good

I love school.

I know, weird.

Yeah, summer's great and all, but I just love having projects and such things. Not that I can't in the summer, but it's much more formal in the school year.

I get to put so much effort into things in the school year. From putting thought into what I wear everyday, to packing a lunch I won't regret by lunchtime, effort is just amazing. 

I've been putting effort into everything since school started. Yes, even gym class. ;) To want to just give up and put in something 'okay', but instead keep going and put in something 'good', or even 'great', feels so great.

When we walked into English on the first day, I was disappointed that our first blog of the school year was going to be on 'justice'. I had been so excited to get back into English, and I don't even care about our first discussion piece. 

When I first started the blog, I was just throwing down random stuff for the grade. Then I scratched that, and started over. And actually really attempted the blog. That felt so much better than my original writing. I've had to restart multiple things already this year, after realizing I'm not really giving it my best. But it's always been so worth it.

It's just great. I'm so thankful for God giving me this precious time of work and study. I'm thankful for my great school, my teachers, my classes. It's wonderful. I even like the maths right now. :O (shocked gasp from all the assembly)

And, getting cello time every morning, first thing in the morning? Oh, yeah.

I pray I'll be able to do my work and duties faithfully during this school year, and be able to respect all my teachers and classmates and everyone else as who they are -- God's beautiful creations.

Oh, and who doesn't love a good fall storm? <3

Happy Day

Today was a happy day. It began with a little To Do list, like so:

It was a short to do list. It made me happy. I tacked up some quotes on my slanted ceiling/wall thing today.

 

 

It's just a mix of some of my all-time favorite quotes. I didn't bother putting where the quotes are from simply because it was just a decoration for my wall and I know where they're from. You can tell where most of them are from, anyway.

"Today, you will meet a beautiful stranger.
Actually, hundreds of beautiful strangers.
Everyone is beautiful
and you know almost none of them."

 

 I also did some homework...

Had some quiet time...

 
And, obviously, played around a bit with my camera.

 

...And, all the while with some music in the background. :)

Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a while. Today was great too. This might seem like a pointless blog post, but it is a happy blog post.

How I Feel Today

A little sad, but also excited. So, here's a little yellow in the midst of a lot of black.

Now that school has started, I've been really, really bad at keeping up with quiet time. Really bad. But I've been offered some more ideas and I hope to start up again.

So, other than that, school has been decently great so far. English is pretty awesome. We've started out the year with talking about justice, and reading The Republic by Plato and Shakespeare's Hamlet. I'm excited for the upcoming projects, and I have a few ideas. It'll be great.

I'm also excited to practice more photography this school year. 

I think I'll even use learning photography for an English project. 

That being said, here are 3 little things that made me a little happier this week:

1: De Hobbit


(Photo via Buzzfeed)
I saw this illustration on Pinterest this week, and I'm not even sure why I found it SO INCREDIBLY ADORABLE. De Hobbit. <3

2. The Cello in Marching Band

(Gif via Pinterest)
As a person who plays the cello, this makes me happy.

3: It Doesn't Have to Be a Snowman

(via Pinterest)
I LAUGHED. SO HARD.

So, how are all of you guys feeling today? What are some things that have made your week better? Hope it's been a good September for y'all so far!

Something I've Found

Maybe getting up so early isn't so bad after all...