Category Archives: 31 days

Day 11: Are You Interruptable?

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{via}

Something that I’ve learned over the past few years is to always look for interruptions to my  day.  And if there are any, I shouldn’t let them frustrate me and I shouldn’t ignore them.  Most of the time, interruptions or inconveniences turn into being the best part of my day.

We all wake up every morning with a plan or idea of how the day is going to go.  But it is important to remember that plans always change.  God moves in our day, and he puts little things in our paths for us to enjoy or to help us grow.

Inconveniences also point us to the needs the people around us.  They help us get to know the life details of friends and strangers that we otherwise would never have asked about.  You might just be what someone needs today, that you would miss because you couldn’t veer from your plan.

I’ve met some of the best people, seen some of the most beautiful places, and learned some of my most important lessons because I didn’t let an inconvenience ruin my day.

An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly accused.  What adventures have you been missing?

::This post is part of a 31 day series.  To see the a list of all the posts, click here. ::

Day 9: The “What If” Mentality

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Those words.  Those two dreaded words.  They are the ones that stop us from taking a risk.  That paralyze us in fear of what could happen. That are the sneaky culprits who steal our joy and adventure.

We let our minds wander, and we start to believe that everything that could go wrong, will go wrong.  But here are some statistics to provide a little bit of perspective:

Did you know that…..

  • The percent of things feared that will never take place is 60%
  • The percent of things feared that happened in the past and can’t be changes is 30%
  • The percent of things feared that are considered to be insignificant issues is 90%
  • The percent of things feared in relation to health that will not happen is 88% {via}
According to these numbers, that means that not many of our worries are actually worth worrying about!  People, there is freedom in that! Freedom to let go of the things that are keeping you from living the kind of life you created for.
It is time to stop obsessing over our worries and fears. One of the problems with the “what if” mentality, is that it either creates a view of God which limits Him, or removes Him from the picture completely.  God puts us in situations that are bigger than us, so that we can learn dependence on Him.  But if we never allow ourselves into those situations, we are not only screwing ourselves, but the people around us as well. God doesn’t need us to do his work, but He wants to use us.  And we are the ones missing out by letting our fears control us.
So stop wondering “What if?”, and start asking “What happens if I don’t?”
:: This post is part of a 31 day series.  To see a list of all the posts, click here. ::

Day 5: Do You Have an Attitude Problem?

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We all have routines.  Some are more predictable than others.  But there are certain things that we do day in and day out.  And after doing this for a while, our routines become mindless.  It’s easy to fall into that mindset. And it’s also dangerous.  Our attitudes become nonchalant and boredom rears its ugly face.  The things that once brought great pleasure to us, no longer do. And we have an attitude problem.

I have learned that I may not be able to control the things that happen in my life, but I am able to choose how I respond to them.   I can choose pouting, laziness and fear.  Or I can choose joy, thankfulness and adventure.

If you look at life as a series of obligations, then you are missing out on so many opportunities for adventure.  Adventure doesn’t have to mean doing something spontaneous or radical.  Adventure could mean rolling down your windows and turning the music up a few more notches.

If we change our attitude about what we are doing, there are endless chances to experience adventure everyday.  And it could change your life.

So which will you choose?

 

:: This post is part of a 31 day series.  To see a list of all the posts click here. ::

Day 4: Sometimes the Sun Don’t Shine.

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Star gazing is one of my most favorite things to do.  Hands down.  You know when you have those moments of feeling so small, and so amazed at what you are experiencing?  I have that moment almost every time I look up at the night sky.

So you can only imagine my excitement when I heard about the annual Perseid Meteor Shower that was going to reach its peak in early August.  The only thing better than a sky filled with stars, is a sky filled with shooting stars!  They were expecting spectators to see up to 100 stars per hour!  So plans were made and my husband and I decided to drive out into the country, pitch a tent at a campground and stargaze away from city lights so we could have the best experience.

Doesn’t all of that sound lovely?  Let’s just begin by saying as the events of the evening unfolded, it just kept getting worse.

It had been a cloudy day, like no-peaks-of-sunshine-cloudy, just a blanket of gray fluff. We questioned whether or not to go through with our plan, but the forecast said “clearing after midnight”.  So, onward, ho!

:: starting our trip! ::

We arrived at the campground late because we were celebrating a friend’s 40th birthday. It was dark. The campground was crowded. So we drove around trying to find a spot and hoping that we wouldn’t get kicked out! (we never made a reservation and the office was closed!) So around 1030PM the tent was pitched and we were ready for bed.

But it was HOT… which made it slightly uncomfortable. Also, my husband was having tooth pain. And our allergies got CRAZY. But we went to sleep and I set my alarm for 1AM, which was the earliest time to catch the greatest number of stars.  But alas, at 1 o’clock that nasty blanket of clouds did not go away.  And it was still there at 2, 3 and 4AM. Major disappointment.  So I gave up, and didn’t set my alarm again.

:: morning view from our tent ::

At 7 we were woken by some crows singing (if that’s what you can call the sound crows make) loudly outside.  Since we were up and frustrated from the night before, we packed up our things, paid for the campsite, and were on our way back home by 8. Not one star spotted.

FAIL.

:: deliciousness in a cup ::

The only redeeming part of this whole adventure was stopping at Starbucks on the way home for some coffee and breakfast.

Lesson learned:  Spontaneous adventures don’t always end up being fun. But I was still glad that we went, because if we didn’t, I’d still be wondering if we missed something beautiful. Just because I plan something, doesn’t mean it will turn out accordingly.  I need to accept things however they play out.  Or maybe I could learn to never trust the forecast!!

 

:: This post is part of a 31 day series.  To see a list of all the posts, click here. ::

Day 3: How are you living?

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This is me hangliding in the summer of 2008!

Eleanor Roosevelt was a smart woman.  She lived an adventure.  When I saw this quote I knew I had to include it in my 31 days.

If I could put these words into my own, I would say: Living an adventure means taking risks, reaching out and experiencing things outside of the norm.  When we choose these things, our life becomes fuller, and more abundant.

What does this look like?

It could be saying yes to a coffee date with someone you don’t know very well.  It could be spending an afternoon in solitude in a beautiful place, just your thoughts and God.  It could be traveling to a city (or even a different part of your own city!) and getting to know people who seem to be nothing like you. It could be jumping off a cliff into crystal blue water.  It could mean being brave enough to conquer an obstacle you never thought you’d be strong enough to overcome. It might be something big, it could be something small.

The only part of Eleanor’s words that I disagree with is that I don’t believe that these things happen without fear.  I think that fear is a vital part of adventure.  It pushes us and stretches us beyond anything we could imagine. But only if you don’t let it overtake you.

I love the first part of this quote, “the purpose of life is to LIVE it.”  It’s so simple. Are you living your life?  What are some obstacles you’ve had to overcome?

I would love to know the ways you are living your life!  Please leave a comment below and share!

 

:: This post is part of a 31 day series.  To se a list of all the posts, click here.