The Thankful List

So often I feel like we are pressured into being mean to our enemies (or those we perceive as enemies) by friends, society, and ourselves. We feel like we have to get a reaction or a rise out of them and that will make us feel better or will make the other person know how we really feel. Sometimes after saying hurtful things or doing hurtful things to others we do feel better. But this is fleeting, it never lasts. All the superficial happiness we gain from gossiping, name calling, and being mean never lasts. We just end up either wanting more or having a big hole left where we thought satisfaction would be. 

Instead of reacting to those individuals that we do not like as much with anger and trying to get back at them, try being nice. You don’t have to act like their best friend but being polite never killed anyone. Plus you can have the satisfaction of being in the bigger person and being mature. Don’t sink to the level of being mean and slinging words around because everyone gets hurt and leaves the fight empty handed. Be a lady or a gentlemen, be nice. You’ll most likely find that you get a lot further with honey than you do with vinegar. 

“Do good to your friends to keep them, to your enemies to win them.”

Benjamin Franklin

I know that might be an obvious title but I feel as though people forget that sometimes, I know I do. I feel like we are taught to bottle our feelings up, to keep them to ourselves and deal with them alone whether they are good or bad. This bottling up of feelings can cause us to feel overwhelmed and heavy with them. It’s good every now and then to talk to someone about it or write it down. I think feelings are meant to be shared. They way people feel about each other and situations is meant to be shared. Feelings are common thread through all of us no matter how tough we try to be. So, every so often share them, let it out. 

When bad things happen to us or loved ones it can be very hard to deal with and make sense of. In these times of trouble we might want to run to the dark places in our mind and heart and shut the good things out in our life. Momentarily, this might make us feel better, we can get brief comfort from feeling as if the world isn’t such a good place.

However, to begin to heal from negative experiences we must continue to stay in the light. Continue to be positive and always, always look for the good around you. They can be simple things like sunshine or a smile. Find those good things and hold onto them. They are your anchor to moving past the negative into the positive. Don’t be afraid to try to find and look for happiness and positivity.

We grow stronger not by staying in the negative, but by having courage to look for and hold on to the positive.

Restless minds and hearts cannot be soothed by the words and actions of others. We must work to find that in our own souls. Whether finding peace entails going for a run/walk, meditating, journalling, or prayer is up to us. Take your quiet alone moments for a chance to practice introspective thinking. Find your own way to inner peace.  

This is your life, there are no do overs. Follow your dreams and go where they take you. Do not let yourself be held back.

Too much monotony can drive us to boredom and lead us to forget what are real purpose for being in school or being at a certain job is. It’s hard to see the forest through the trees or tests or spreadsheets; to remember our bigger goals, our true passions in life. Take time to integrate these things into your daily life keep them fresh in your mind. Put a “why” to all the seemingly meaningless assignments. If you can keep your dreams and passions in front of you, you can reach your success!

Life’s too short and you are too awesome to do anything else. 

Seeing someone being strong through trying times, can help give others the courage to face their feels or deal with unpleasant situations. It’s not always easy to be strong for people especially when we want to feel upset or angry ourselves. Being strong for others however, can help them to deal with the situation and grow. 

sometimes it’s worth it to take a leap of faith :)

:)