This was intended to be posted last week, but i am over here living life. I've been reading alot of blog posts and online articles about real life and "digital life"...and how much of our real life has turned into a digital life from asking a girl out on a date via text to finding out how about your uncle was diagnosed with cancer from his facebook post. No phone call there.
The way we are connecting is definitely changing more and more as we head into the future.
Do I dare ask when is the last time anyone has written a handwritten letter or note and sent it in the mail? I'll tell you that I do it all the time and its meaning is so special. I know because when a friend or relative sends me a card or letter, it totally makes my day and brings a warm fuzzy in my heart. That person took the time to write from their heart, even if it's just telling me about their latest vacation or book they read. It's just priceless.
So let me ask you. How much of your life is online? Would you say it's 50% or 75% or more or less? Now, for us who blog, alot of our real life is plastered online, but we can choose how much we reveal. We don't have to "check-in" at wendy's, then the gas station and let everyone know where we are. For me, I would say that I choose to be pretty open with you all and I would say that 65% of my real life is expressed on the blog, which is fine with me because to me, how else will my readers relate. And I just don't want to label you as readers, but as my friends and greatest supporters. Blogging about my life is what my blog is about and a way for me to document that as well to share with family & friends who live away.
The way to connect these days is by email, face-time, skype, facebook and instagram (i don't even have an account) and I will continue to utilize facebook and twitter as ways to reach out. Despite all that, I will always write my little heart out to my dearies and try to help keep the postal service in business.
The end of August is drawing near and I feel a bit reflective.
I've had a mild migraine since early this morning and took something for it and it's still here, gently nagging.
Remember when I talked about going to try to get a mammogram done and how I was experiencing pain on the side of boob, up near my armpit? Well, since that day is July, I put my game face on and I started cutting back on my caffeine intake, as suggested by one of the techs at the office. I first stopped drinking regular tea. I then switched to decaf instant coffee (realizing that there are still trace amounts of caffeine in that) within that week.
can i do this?!
Psalm 64:1, 5 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." + "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early."
In just two weeks of making those changes, the pain was gone! Wow, right!? About a month later, on August 8th, I decided to stop drinking coffee! Today marks day 23 of being coffee free! I FINALLY confronted my fear of this change as I realized that I was a coffee addict. It might sound funny, and it does make me laugh, but it was serious. I am not saying coffee is bad, in fact, it has antioxidants, but for me, it was a problem. It was my drug,"my own personal brand of heroin" (gosh, i sound like Edward in Twilight). I didn't want that addiction to control me. I wanted to break free and I did so with the help of Christ. Prayer helped and amazingly, this letting-go has been easier than I thought. [special thanks goes to A.L& K.L for the prayers & rolos] I was stronger than I thought, though I believed in myself that I could do this, as I had been mentally preparing for this day for months.
I looked forward to every.single.morning of one cup (sometimes 2) of
home brewed coffee. Everytime I'd leave the house, I'd try to think of
if there was a starbucks or coffee shop nearby so I could get a coffee
contained frapp or iced drink. Believe me, I know where all the
starbucks are within a 3 mile radius of my home!
Now, I
still frequent starbucks often, but it's for coffee free drinks like
their double chocolate chip frap or the strawberries and cream frap.
I've made each of those my go-to drinks in my own way, like no extra
chocolate sauce or whip and adding toffee nut flavor to the strawberry
one.You may ask or think that I am replacing one addiction for another?
Maybe. However, I find that I don't crave the above drinks like I had
with the coffee ones.
Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand."
Do I miss coffee? Hmm,yes, a bit, when I really think about it, but honestly don't think about it that much on a daily basis or I try not to think about it :) I now have replaced my morning fix with watered down orange juice, which I thoroughly enjoy. Positive changes, like this one, take a conscious daily effort. I am so thankful to have God on my side. As I draw strength from him, I draw nearer to him and all the good he has in store for me. I will continue to follow Jesus all the days of my life & forever. He is the potter who is molding me and holding me safely in the palm of his hand.
Gonna leave you with this beautiful song from a "new" duo I discovered two days ago, All Sons & Daughters. Enjoy.
Did you used to be a coffee addict? When did you stop drinking it?
you may call me idealistic and that's ok, because probably i am. I dream of a world where there is harmony and peace between nations. I dream of a world where injustice is a thing of the past. I dream of a world of connection and love. I dream that those who have had their lives stolen at one point can still have their dream.
The past few days, I've been deep in thought about how i can serve. I wanted to become a part of something bigger than myself and my simple, humble life. Something that my heart would be on fire for. I have vitiligo (an autoimmune skin disorder that makes my skin lose its pigment, ya know, the same one Michael Jackson had)...anyways, yesterday i noticed a spot that resembled Africa. I traced it so you can visualize better. To me, it's a sign from the heavens! God was hinting at my answer.
{do you see it? just backwards. But i see Africa.}
the video below is 30 minutes long, but i promise you, it'll be the best 30 minutes you may spend today. I watched and became aware of it & who Joseph Kony is via my friend Sue who blogs over at hello. also, i love you
we all CAN do something! We, who may feel small or not powerful, can unite for the common goal of giving a LOUD VOICE for the invisible children. No one should have to live their life worrying about being abducted to become a child solider or a sex slave. No one should be forced to kill their own parents or see their own dear brother killed before their eyes. A child deserves to be cared for and looked after, but this isn't happening for thousands of children. We now know that it's going on in Africa, which seems so far away, but it's happening on a much wider scale & deserves national and worldwide attention. Just because it's happening 'over there' doesn't mean we should close our eyes & stay silent. This is an opportunity to speak up and take a stand. This is our moment to make a difference to these invisible children, who are also God's children. We can be brave for them, because God is with us. (romans 8:31)
I rank Kony right up there with Hitler! In the video you will see that Kony is the world's worst war criminal! ( I didn't know until today). We can make him famous to the point that the world's cameras are scrutinizing his every move, letting him know that we as a worldwide community of hearts are after him and that his reign of terror WILL come to an end! By helping to stop Kony, we will be changing the world for the better.
Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be!-miguel de cervantes
