Here's just a little background as to what this post is going to be based on:
I had to deal with a bit of instability not only where I was living but where I was going to school over the past few years. When I got to high school I thought, "this is it, I will be here at Burroughs High School (in Ridgecrest) for the entire four years of high school." Because of a lack of emotional and mental well-being at the time, it was decided that after sophomore year, what I needed was a "change of scenery". Which is when I moved down to Costa Mesa and started at Costa Mesa High School. It was one of the best things I could have done at the time, but at first I was not very happy. My sense of stability (at least through high school) was immediately taken away. I was fortunate to get a great group of friends and get involved in school activities, while doing well in my classes. When I left Burroughs, I left many things behind; but when I got to Mesa, I gained just as many! Today I am back in Ridgecrest, with my family and going to school. When I made that move, I felt I left behind friends, activities, programs I enjoyed, but most importantly a bit of my family. Another thing I definitely missed was my favorite teacher, Mr. Cosner. Sophomore year I had Mr. Cosner for Conceptual Biology during the last period of the day. It was by far the perfect end to a day. I can recount at least twice a week when Mr. Cosner would stop what he was doing and express his feelings on teaching and why he loves it so much. He had such a way for words that let all the students know just how sincere he was. I will also never forget how almost every single day on my way to class Mr. Cosner would stand outside the door and welcome us in with a big smile. Who couldn't ask for a better end to the day? Today I decided to stop by Burroughs and visit him. Before I did so, I had this weird feeling that when I walked into his classroom he wouldn't recognize me and I would say something like "Hi Mr. Cosner, do you remember me?" Oh boy, was it the exact opposite of that. I got my visitors pass to be on campus and made sure I was there during his prep-period so there would actually be time to talk. Like I said earlier he was always a teacher that brought joy to the end of my day. As I am walking to his room, I felt that same joy resonating inside me before even arriving at the classroom. I barely get 5 feet in the classroom, when he stands up from his desk, with a big smile, and walks towards me for a hug. We had a great talk just catching up. But the point of me writing this post and sharing this story is this: Mr. Cosner told me that recently he mentioned me to a class of his, by remembering a note that I wrote to him during my last days at Burroughs. He got teary-eyed from that note when he first read it and explained it as being one of the reminders as to why he gets up every morning and teaches 100+ high school kids every day. I was so caught off guard by this because, honestly, I barely even remember that note I wrote. He had to remind me what it said. In that instance he allowed me to feel so special and so remembered and so valuable. YOU are so valuable. So important, helpful, prized, relevant, treasured, useful, worthwhile, dear, worthy, admired, appreciated, cherished, precious, respected, and loved. Whether you realize it or not. It may take you a trip down memory lane and an encounter like the one I had today to really know that. But it is SO true. Please never forget that or think otherwise. Thanks for reading! ;)
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"The absence of life giving words can be as painful as the presence of harsh words. The power of both life & death are in your tongue. Use it. What you don't say makes as much of an impact as what you do. The absence of encouragement, appreciation, honor & gratitude screams loudly!” Christine Caine Coming across this quote in the past couple days got me thinking. The words that role off our tongue have the profound power to change lives. That happens whether you mean to say something or you say something on "accident". By not saying something positive, that is just as painful as saying something negative. Words change lives. Choose and use them wisely. But at the same time, leave it all on the table and leave nothing unsaid. This is something that is so much easier said than done. Like I said, your words have the profound power to change someone's life. I have a few people in my life, who -more than I would like them to be- are very honest. In my opinion, a little too honest. I say that now, but in the long run their honesty is always to my benefit. I act on it. I reflect on it. I take it to heart. That honesty means something to me. But when I get the comments that aren't so nice, that can be hurtful, rude, and bring me down, I unfortunately still act on those words. I still take those rude, hurtful words to heart. I think that is human nature. I get the positive and negative words. The words that can lift me or bring me down. The words I have heard throughout my life have molded me into the person I am today. Be the one to give the honest, true, kind, loving, caring, profoundly power feedback to someone. You just might change their life. Thanks for reading! ;)
Yesterday I listened to my grandfather preach on an idea I have heard many times.
"It is only a season. And this season will pass." Giving memorable examples, illustrations, and instructions, it was definitely, as always, a great sermon. This idea just hit me a little differently than the other times I have heard it. Right after church I found myself not getting up for a while and just thinking. Then to my surprise I got a bit emotional. I wasn't balling, but I was just teary-eyed enough to realize that something isn't really right here and I needed to take the time and reflect. I am in a season and you are in a season. Good or bad, negative or positive, stressful or easy-going we are all in a season. We all must know and realize that this season will pass. I recently remembered a session at a Jesus Culture conference I attended where Kim Walker-Smith spoke. She felt lead to speak on "the condition of our hearts". And how the condition of our hearts is very important to God. We go on with our daily lives and go through the motions (school, work, friends, family), and all these trails come in our way but in reality there is no way we can do these things apart from God. She made a humorous but mindful illustration to this: "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain Jesus Christ. I need everyone to take a seat and buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride. But I promise you that I will never leave you nor will I forsake you. I'm going to be with you through every step of the way." That is so the truth. You probably don't realize it at first, but there is a huge, powerful, mighty God that already knows how your life is going to pan out. He already knows what trials and tribulations you were endure. And He already knows all the seasons that you will encounter and will have to pass through. But you cannot and should not do it without Him. Pray about it, meditate on it, let God have His hand on it. You got this! Thanks for reading! I turned 18 today and it was a great day! There wasn't too much out of the ordinary, besides doing a fun photo shoot with my mom and getting a tattoo. It was nice because I found myself to be pretty brave about the whole tattoo thing. I was way more calm than my mom was and totally kept my cool. All the way up to when I heard the buzz of the needle start. I literally don't think I will ever forget that noise. Every time he put the needle to my shoulder I just held my breath waiting for him to release or just to be done. I have never been very keen of needles and kept hearing ideas of what it would feel like but still didn't really know what to expect! After it was over, I found myself to be very "tender" with my emotions and I guess I was still a bit nervous (even afterwards) of my surroundings and the whole situation. It wasn't until my mom and I got outside and got into a little "beef" that I started balling my eyes out, which was realistically for no apparent reason. I have dealt with the idea of people liking and not liking my want for a tattoo, before today. And thanks to social media and phones, I dealt with it a little more, today. I know for sure that everyone is completely obligated and entitled to their own opinion, but then it just depends on how you portray that opinion. Ok, so here's what I think: 1. Realize your opinion. 2. Know what you stand for. If it happens to be something that the majority may go against or is just some sort of mainstream, slightly controversial topic (like tattoos), really know what you stand for. I say that because you need to know how to defend yourself and not get flustered or "caught off guard" when you need to defend yourself. 3. Defend yourself. 4. But try your best NOT to offend someone. It can be tricky. Just be gracious to people by giving hopeful advice through your opinion. I got offended a couple times today about my new tattoo. The offence was, of course, unintentional, but it still hurt for just a little bit. The plain simple fact is that people are not going to agree with everything you do and vise-versa! And it is so easy to get offended. So what I can say to that is: 1. Choice the right words. 2. And work on being able to control how you feel and react when you do get unintentionally offended. Thanks for reading! Throughout these last two weeks of school in all three of my on-campus classes the students are all very diverse. Diverse is a term that can sometimes be easily thrown around and misinterpreted. It means many things, like age, race, height, gender, and anything that outwardly defines you (well that's my definition at least).
On the other hand dictionary.com says 1. of a different kind, form, character, etc.; unlike: a wide range of diverse opinions. 2. of various kinds or forms; multiform. The majority of my classes consist of people my age and along the same path as me. That we just graduated high school and we are at Cerro Coso getting our Gen Ed out of the way so we can possibly transfer. Then I have the 3-5 or so people in each class who are well in their 30's, 40's, and even early 50's. I don't know their story or what made them want to come back to school. But I definitely applaud them. I can just imagine that can be a daunting task to be away from an academic setting for 10, 20, 30 years and suddenly come back. They may have contemplated this new life decision, gotten advice from other people, and then finally decided this could be a benefiting thing to do. Think for a moment of a decision you have laying in your life right now. Big or small. Cliche or serious. - You may have to move and are stuck with the decision of which house to move into. Should I do that down-payment or this down-payment? - Should I spend the $100 for this amazing concert ticket? It'll be so much fun though. - Is this person really the right friend for me, for where I am in my life? There are countless questions you could ask yourself. One of the phrases I hear on a daily basis are "stay in the moment" or "don't think so long-term". People HATE thinking long-term! It drives them nuts. If you don't think long-term, well in 10 years it could possibly ruin your life. Not to be so dramatic, but it's kind of true! Yes, you should think about today; what you need to accomplish and how productive you can be. But then, think about tomorrow! And the next day! It's hard, and maybe a little scary. But try it. Something that you are going to decide upon today, could be of such great benefit one year from now! These older ladies and gentleman in my classes are doing both thinking short term and long-term! They are thinking what homework they can get done for today and how proud they are going to be of themselves at the end of these 4 semesters. Try this: Get out a pen and paper. Make a list. A list of all your goals for today. For the week. For the month. For the year. For the next 5 years. Then for the next 10 years. - How can I possibly make a list of my goals for the next 1, 5, or 10 years??! Please, just try it! It may really get you thinking. Thanks for reading! :) |
This is a blog about the ups & downs of early
adulthood, God's goodness & faithfulness, & life in other countries. “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Habakkuk 1:5 NIV Archives
June 2017
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