Cliche thoughts

At the close of the year, I have the same cliche thoughts as everyone else:

"This year sure has flown by!"

"There is so much I should have done or wanted to do but didn't."

"Time seems to go by faster the older I get."

At first, I feel as if I need to have some tidbits of unique wisdom or witty remarks about starting 2015 with a bang, but then I stop and realize that there's a reason these thoughts are cliche. It's because they are true. While not all cliches are true, there is a reason that most become benal and overused, and it is because they express feelings that many people have. So, it's okay to have these feelings. If you are having these same thoughts, you're not alone. It's okay to have these cliche thoughts as long as all of your actions that follow are your own and you are not setting certain goals and nurturing particular dreams just because they are cliche and "everyone else" has them.

I've been thinking. God gives everyone the same amount of time every year, every month, every day; no one gets any more than anyone else. It moves past us all at the same rate. I can see the changes time brings but I cannot stop it from moving any more than I can see the wind. All I and anyone else can do is to make the most out of my time. Another trite saying, I know, but still true. It seems as if some people have extra time to do all of these amazing things, but really they just manage their time well enough to get those things done. I know I need to work on that.

Being away at college has taught me to value the people in my life more than ever and to cherish the time I have with them. Having big dreams and lofty goals is good and even necessary, but I cannot get so caught up in those big things that I lose sight of the small things that are right in front of me. 

Now, I would love to hear from you:

What are your thoughts on new year's resolutions? If you have any, what are they?

What are some cliche sayings you never want to hear again? Why?

What are some of your big dreams for your life?

Christmas-y things

Baking Christmas cookies. 

Celebrating multiple December birthdays.

Seeing family members play basketball.

Wrapping gifts. 

Church Christmas activities.

 Finally being home after my first semester of college. 

Lots (and lots and lots) of Hallmark Christmas movies because why not.

Staring at bright Christmas lights.

Reminiscing past Christmas adventures.

Wishing for snow so we can have a white Christmas.

Packages in the mail.

Window shopping.

Little adventures like riding the carousel at the mall, playing my four-year-old sister in Wii bowling, and bringing whatever siblings are around to the grocery store for that one item I need.

Christmas break has been wonderful so far. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thankful Thursday // 3

I was all excited to start my Thankful Thursday series, and I missed three in a row. Oh, well. Life happens, which is why I have a lot of things for today's (one day late) post.

14. Skyping with family and friends.

15. Snow!

16. Music that helps me focus and music that gets me excited.

17. Learning how to better skim textbooks while still actually learning.

18. Getting along better with my roommate.

19. Bursts of inspiration for blog posts when I actually sit down to write.

20. Fun times in the dishroom.

21. A birthday package from my family.

22. The color purple.

23. So many people showering me with love on my birthday.

24. People who go out of their way to be kind.

25. Having unexpected free time due to cancelled classes.

26. Biting wind that makes me feel more alive.

27. God's Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman. I just started it, but I already love it.

28. Being able to help others with homework they're struggling with.

29. A sister who will fangirl with me.

30. Old friends and memories.

31. Discovering new music.

32. Apple cinnamon tea.

33. Being away from my family and friends for months made me realize how grateful I am for them.

34. Fruit.

35. Being able to bless other people through gift giving.

36. The excitement of Christmas break almost starting is what is getting me through these last couple of weeks.

37. An amazing field trip to New York City and finally being able to visit the Met museum.

38. Friends to belly laugh with. It had been too long.

39. Warm clothing on chilly days.

40. A sweet package from a sweet friend. 

41. Christmas lights and music.

42. Technology that allows me to instantly connect with both people I have known my whole life and people I have never met in person.

43. Finally getting paid.

44. Flavored sparkling water.

Playlist and shuffle

Some days are playlist days and some are shuffle play days.

Sometimes I crave predictability; I want to know what is coming and who I will come in contact with. Everyone and everything is neatly organized and is nice and orderly.

Other days, things are more unpredictable, with many mood shifts and unexpected events. 

As much as I might like to have lots of playlist days, more and more often I find myself having shuffle days. I don't know what is coming next, and I need to be okay with that. I can't control everything, and I shouldn't try.

Vlog 6 // Delight

Now for all of the links I promised...

The Last Goodbye. So, so wonderful and sad all at once.

Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman

Blog posts: A Woman who Loves // Because of the Cold // Honesty in Pain // Beautiful Things //

Delight Blog

Delight Fundraiser

What have you enjoyed this week?

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

My flaws and faults

Have you ever noticed that the people who are most similar to us tend to frustrate us the most? There are some things that I do that I know I shouldn't, so I get more upset with people who do those things. 

Why is this? I tell myself that it's because I don't want others to make the same mistakes I do, especially when they are younger than me, like my siblings.

But really, I think it's because seeing others do things that I do forces me to confront my flaws and faults, the ones that I try to keep hidden. 

Next time I find myself getting frustrated at someone for this, I need to stop. Stop getting angry. Stop telling myself that I have good reasons to be upset. Then I need to start asking God to help me change my own ways before I expect other people to change.

I don't know why exactly I am sharing this on here. Maybe because I want to be honest with all of you. Maybe because I hope I am not the only one who does this. Maybe to encourage you that you are not alone in this struggle. Maybe so that we can help each other.

Matthew 7:3-5

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

{insert poetic thoughts}

Am I supposed to have lofty, poetic thoughts on my birthday? As I sit in my dorm lounge, eating pumpkin pie ice cream, and watching The Voice, I have no poetic thoughts. It's been an ordinary day, for the most part. Good, but ordinary. A lot of people let me know they love me, but my day looked the same as usual. Class. Work. Homework. Netflix. Treating myself to ice cream. 

I'm 19 now, which is hard to believe. But that's it. No big thoughts or keen insights now that I am a year older. Just some passing thoughts on a chilly November day.