Own the Challenge

As some of you may know, tomorrow marks the beginning of NaNoWriMo. Insane writers unite to take on the challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in one month. Yeah. It's pretty crazy.

My good friend from English class (who, by the way, is a FANTASTIC writer) has been planning this year's NaNoWriMo since last December. She's so excited, it's totally contagious.

And then there's me, who decided to do this today, on the way to lunch.

Good job, me.

I have so much planning to do! This is going to be so great. I'm not going for such a lofty word count. I don't write that often, and there's no way I would have the stamina for it. But I'm going for a novel. Maybe a novella. ....or a novelette...whatever. It'll be really, really hard to stay motivated, but I am going to do it.

SO, for the next 30 days, expect a lot of writing posts. I am going to be learning so much, and I am getting to know my characters as I write, so it'll be really intense.

According to the NaNoWriMo website, there are two types of writers: Planners and Pantsers. Guess which one I am??

You believe in hardcore spontaneity.You’ll spend the months before November stocking up on inspiration and mayyybe a vague idea or two (if you’re ambitious).On November 1, you’ll have a blank document and your imagination.  

 Yup. Except minus the parts about actually thinking about it months in advance. More like the day before...heh. But come on, let's look on the bright side! At least I won't be one of those in the "I Over-Planned My NaNoWriMo Novel" category.

Don't worry, I have my NaNo Pinterest board on secret, so you all out there who are following me won't be completely drowned. Yeah, you're welcome.

So, hey. Are you doing NaNoWriMo?? Come buddy me on the website! I'm sofafiabee and I'm looking for NaNoWriMo connections.

Let's own this.

A Teacher Affects Eternity

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." -Henry Adams

This isn't going to be much of a post, but can we just take a couple seconds to appreciate those great teachers that are just so enthusiastic you can't help but love the subject they teach??

I don't even like numbers! I honestly don't even know what I'm doing!

So... why am I enjoying this so much?

A teacher who truly embraces imperfection and allows you to struggle long enough for you to figure it out on your own is an incredibly wonderful teacher to have. 

A Shared Experience

Technology is a topic that is discussed a lot these days, and not without reason. Smart phones, computers, the internet -- they pretty much rule our lives. I recently got an app on my phone called Checky. The purpose of it is simple: it tells me how often I check my phone every day. It's crazy looking back at the numbers and seeing how much attention my phone gets from me, and it's also interesting to see the trends. I found out check my phone more often during the school day than on weekends. Which makes sense, since I use my phone as a calculator and resource more during school.

In English class the other day we watched a video of a speaker talking about connecting with others and technology. I can't link to the video, since it was my English teacher's personal recording (and I'm not even sure who the speaker was), but I'll explain a little bit. 

Basically, there are several feel-good chemicals our brains release: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin. 

Serotonin is the one we're mostly talking about here. Serotonin is that really good feeling when you do something good, and everyone else gets to know about it too. Serotonin is walking across the stage at your graduation, and everyone is applauding you.

Serotonin is the buzz of your phone telling you you have a message.

Phones give the illusion of productivity and experience. Each like, retweet, follow...it all gives you a little boost of serotonin. Working out gives you an endorphin boost, but does that in itself feel as good as posting your workout to Facebook and getting a large number of likes? Didn't think so. 

But it's not real.

The magic of serotonin is that it actually is for connecting with others. When you're walking across that stage, you feel really proud, but guess what?

The people applauding for you are getting serotonin boosts too. 

It's a shared experience. And there is where phones lack. When someone likes your post, you don't know what they got from it. And there, among the chaotic buzz of likes, comments, follows, retweets...

Among the little zaps of serotonin that make you feel so great and liked...

There is where you find the empty loneliness of yourself.

Just a Verse

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