Life

Have you prayed today?

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

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LISTEN: Where is the Love?

LISTEN: All you need is Love.

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand why people do terrible things.

I don’t understand how violence has become the norm.

I hate that the quality of life and living have been tainted.

We ask why?

We try to understand.

Is nowhere safe?

You risk your life everyday by leaving your house.

You risk your life by taking public transportation.

…by going to the movies.

…by going to a concert.

…by going to a nightclub.

All things that are normal.

Things that are part of making life worth wild.

Experiences. Memories.

All viciously tainted.

We now live in a world where you can’t trust the stranger sitting next to you.

A world where you are weary and guarded.

Because you have to be.

Because this world has taught you that you need to be.

The violence must stop.

The world is in turmoil.

Security must enhance EVERYWHERE.

It’s sad. But it’s true.

You can’t walk around carelessly anymore.

You can’t trust in humanity.

In strangers or in sense of self and good hearts.

It’s sad. But it’s true.

You never know.

Anyone allowed to carry a weapon should have to undergo a psychiatric test before walking out with one.

People who have such anger in them that they would take the life of others just because they want to, just because they feel like it. They need help. The rage, the hate, the anger, the violence. It needs to stop.

We live in a world where you question bringing new life into it.

You question traveling at night alone.

…dropping your kids off at school.

The world is in turmoil and in these times are law and government going to step up and do something to change things? Can they change things? Will they even try?

Underground illegal actions constantly go untracked.

There is so much we don’t know.

I’m not one for politics, because quite honestly it feels like a popularity contest and they don’t end up doing what they say or are limited as to what they can actually do. If you ask me it’s probably not really even up to us.

But people in positions of power should use it for good. Awareness. Awakening. The time is now. No time like the present. The next president, needs to be the face of change.

The media only makes it worse. The constant reports, I have to turn it off after a while, because my anxiety spikes and if I continue to bury myself in that negativity, I’d never want to leave my house.

We shouldn’t have to fear living life.

In times like this we all turn our heads upwards and ask why?

Even those who don’t always believe.

We may even get angry as to why God let this happen.

There’s free will, and sometimes people abuse that.

While others soar and inspire, some are filled with evil and sin.

And one day their judgement day will come.

God Bless.

Stay Safe.

Hold your loved ones tight.

Forgive.

Leave it to God.

And Pray, pray harder than you ever have.

Pray for the world, pray for peace.

Pray for souls to connect with God again and fill their minds and hearts, with his will and to do the best they can, and be the best they can be to better this world for this generation and many generations to come.

Because this world, this isn’t the world God gave us.

The anger, the hate, the violence, he never instilled that into souls.

We’ve damaged our world, and now we need to fix it.

Have you prayed yet?

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I understand not all people identify with a religion but if you believe there is a greater power out there, then you know what it means to have a connection to something greater than yourself. I only hope you let that energy inspire you to always do good. Your soul deserves nothing less.

*I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-

 

 

This one’s for all my To Do List Makers

michelleleighwrites 2 Comments

Things to Do.

I’m a To Do List girl.

It helps me to visually see the things I need to get done on paper or in a memo in my phone.

However, even though I find them extremely helpful when trying to organize my life and get my shit together, the longer the list the more daunting it feels. The anxiety to get it all done is real. You feel like you won’t be able to get it done. And sometimes that can hinder any progress at all. It’s a weight on your shoulders. And your deadline to do these things becomes something you try to avoid. And procrastination rears its ugly head.

Why do we do this?

When January started, I came up with this idea to write out my mega long To Do List for reference, but then to make a smaller goal for each month. A sub To Do List if you will. Well, that lasted and worked for about a week and the lists got lost in the shuffle of life.

Lately I have been feeling a bit out of sync with the things I’ve been wanting to accomplish this year. I still make To Do lists but I just feel like the items continuously get pushed back to the next day’s list and nothing gets done. I know I’m not the only one who faces this problem, I know life happens and when you have crucial day to day things that need to get done and a job you need to plan and prep for, it’s hard to not let the ball drop every now and then.

But recently, I got out my mega To Do List, to regain focus and as I went through it, I realized how many things I have been doing and what I needed to still work on. It was incredible to see that even without the list in my face, my focus hadn’t completely left its rightful place.

Granted I still have a lot of work to do. But as someone who deals with anxiety and can sometimes feel overwhelmed by life and it’s ever changing ways and long strain of to do lists, I’ve found that I’m capable of so much more than I think I am. And I also realize that To Do List do inevitably work for me as an organization tool. Because when my mind is all over the place and there’s so much going on, I can’t trust my brain to remember everything. Writing it all down helps. There is a strange satisfaction that you feel, when you are able to work through your list and check things off one by one. It makes you feel productive, like you’re getting shit done.

So if you are in need of an organizational brain spring cleaning, start with a To Do List. Keep it short. Don’t make yourself anxious by trying to do everything in one day. I do that all the time and then I get discouraged when I can’t accomplish everything. When you break your list down to what’s most important, you will be able to see what can wait til the next day.

Trust me. To Do Lists. They work. Get it girl. Organize your life. 😉

 

* I do not own any images used. *

-<3-

 

 

Strength

michelleleighwrites 1 Comment

Every Sunday, at church it always seems that the readings and the Gospel kind of just apply to whatever it is that is going on in your life. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Not by a long shot.

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So I just want to share with you something that truly inspired me:

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.– Corinthians 12:7-10

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It is in our greatest weaknesses, and moments where we question our path, and our life that we gather all our strength. That we pick ourselves back up and keep going forward.

Hold onto this…. ❤

* I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-

Glass Half Full or Glass Half Empty?

michelleleighwrites 2 Comments

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The metaphor we use to decide if we are optimistic or pessimistic.

Do you view your “glass” as half full or as half empty?

Because let’s face it when we say glass we really mean LIFE, right?

So what’s your take on this?

When you literally pour yourself a glass of water, or soda, or wine…or whatever it is you like to drink… what is your desired amount?

For me personally I find that I usually pour myself a medium to full glass. I assume I’m going to drink it all, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.

Then there’s the whole losing my cup deal I go through, where I forget I had a cup full and pour a new one. (symbolizes scatter brain I suppose.)

In fact I’ve noticed I rarely let my cup go empty at all. I’m constantly refilling it.

So let’s dissect this, shall we?

I’m going to get all psychological on you guys for a second, bear with me?

This was a discussion my priest had in church last Sunday.

Now even if you don’t go to church or you share different beliefs, this metaphor and this topic can really apply to anyone.

The priest went on to explain how we all have those “Woe is me?” moments, where we think “Why me?” “Why do I have to go through this?” Moment where we deal with self-doubt and disbelief in ourselves. Where we feel we can’t do something, or overcome our greatest struggles, or achieve our greatest dreams.

It’s something everyone deals with. It’s something that is universal. No one is perfect. No one wakes up everyday feeling 100% amazing. Everyone struggles. It’s normal to question life.

Which brings me to the metaphor at hand. I remember the priest tying this into his homily. We sometimes dwell on all the things we don’t have, or the things we feel we can’t do.

But we neglect to appreciate all the things we do have, we neglect to give ourselves credit for the things we have accomplished.

We forget to count our blessings.

On the car ride later that day, my mom and I started to talk about the homily and this glass half full/ half empty metaphor.

My mom asked me what I consider my glass; half empty or half full.

I laughed and said, I think I’d say half empty. Because to me that’s just how it looks to the naked eye, no deeper thought applied.

Although internally I thought that was kind of sad.

I never want to feel like I’m a pessimistic person. Even though that at times may be true.

I want to believe that I can have a positive, optimistic view too; on myself, on others, on life as a whole.

Talking it out loud with my mom, I was confused again. Half empty? Half full?

I mentioned my habits when pouring myself a glass, and constantly refilling my glass before it gets empty. My mom seems to think that means I’m ambitious, that I keep striving, never settle.

That was actually quite amazing to hear. It was comforting and gave me an uplifting feeling.

So thanks mom. ❤

And now I digress.

Even though it may seem like I’ve rambled on with a bunch of mumbo jumbo, I think you on some level see my point.

And in case you don’t here’s the abridged version.

Everyone has bad days.

No one is perfect.

And no one can be optimistic 24/7.

We all struggle.

We all lose sight of the important things we do have, and the gifts we bring to the table.

We just need time to regroup and gain inspiration and new perspective.

So chuck the metaphors if they don’t suit you, and just be yourself.

Life can be both FULL and feel EMPTY at times.

Weather you consider your glass half full or half empty, remember, glasses can overflow (and overwhelm you) and glasses can be refilled (there’s always another bottle of whatever you’re drinking, go buy it! In other words you may fall on your face, dust yourself off and get back up!) Find what works for you and do your thing!

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Thanks for reading my ramblings.

*Cheers* to Life (and living it!)

*Cheers* to Life (and living it!)

Share your views in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you guys think!

*I do not take credit for the image or gifs used.*

-<3-