Lux Thinking Aloud Striving To Be Childlike 7:36 AM Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. -Matthew 18:3 Striving To Be Childlike I'm striving to be childlike. A child lives a less complex, stress free life. A child may worry, but not for long and not over serious matters. I am striving to be forgiving. Notice how easy it is for children to forgive one another? Sometimes, they don't even have to apologize. After a while, they start playing or talking again like nothing happened. No hang ups, no grudges. They forgive easily because they don't make a big deal out of it. They forgive easily because they forget about the offense. They put their friendship over their differences. And a little misunderstanding can't stop them from having fun. I want to be as forgiving as a child. I am striving to be trusting. The ugly part of being an adult is that you've been exposed to many events that somehow removed your ability to trust fully. Too many betrayals. Too many promises broken. Too many plans that did not pursue because somehow the people involved were not able to live out their commitment. It's sad really. You become too cautious you build a strong and tall wall around you to protect yourself from further damage, because you fear that you might not be able to take the hurt anymore if it happens again. I want to be childlike in the way I trust people. Like I've never been hurt before. Like I will never be betrayed again. The way a child laughs when he's being thrown high on air by his father knowing that he will catch him no matter what. I am striving to be dependent on God. I want to be dependent on God like a child is dependent on his parents. To wake up knowing that my day will be alright because my Father sees to it that all my needs are taken care of. That my way is safe. That my convenience is always considered. I am striving to be worry-free. Worry is not of from God, it's from the enemy. Because God does not want us to worry, He said that so Himself. A child is worry-free because He knows He's in good hands. He can sleep soundly in his parent's arms despite the chaos going around him because he is sure that he will be protected. That he will not be abandoned. That he is loved. I am striving to be childlike in a way that I never lose my sense of wonder. To look at things in amazement. To expect beautiful surprises in the face of uncertainty. To believe in miracles, in magic, and that all wishes come true. To be always in awe even of the little things that adults take for granted. To never stop being appreciative of even the small things and gestures. I am striving to be forgiving, trusting, dependent, worry-free, appreciative. I am striving to be childlike. A child who is confident that he is loved. A child who knows his place. A child so full of dreams and belief in himself. A child who is sure that he can do anything he sets his heart to. I am striving to be childlike, and you should too. This post is based on today's Didache Reflection. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email Photos: Google images
Dating 5 Common Worries Of A Single Woman & What To Do About Them 2:35 AM 5 Common Worries Of A Single Woman & What To Do About Them Is being single worth losing sleep over? It’s 2 AM. The world is quiet and sleeping. But here you are. Lying awake in bed wondering if you’d ever find The One. You wish you could fast forward and skip to the good part.But you can’t.You’re single AF. Uncertainties start to overwhelm you. Self-doubt begins to dampen your spirit.The future looks scary...mainly because you feel alone.You try to shake off that negative feeling and ask, “How do I stop worrying about being single?”Don’t fret. For every anxiety, there is a remedy.What do single women worry about the most?Here are five common worries of a single woman and what to do about them. Worry #1: All my friends are getting married or pregnant!When you see your peers celebrating milestones and feel like you’re stuck, it’s easy to feel insecure.You start questioning what’s next for you.When am I going to meet my spouse? Will I ever be able to start my own family?You don’t want to feel left behind.People will be pressuring you to settle down.Some of them are well-meaning. But it does feel intrusive and disrespectful sometimes.So what to do when you start to worry about your friends moving forward and ahead of you? Remedy:It pays to be patient. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time. How you spend your lifetime is at stake here, so don’t jump into hasty decisions and settle for just anyone.Don’t sabotage your future just because you’re lonely at present.Strip away envy.Be genuinely happy for your friends’ achievements and breakthroughs.Celebrate your victories too. You may not have found The One yet, but the freedom of being single is priceless. Seize every moment. Unlike you, your friends may enjoy their time with their new baby but cannot sleep as much as they want. You can go to bed and wake up at any time.You have everything in your hands to experience life as you please.No commitments. No hassles.Embrace your alone time.Because one day, when you least expect it, it will all be over.Gratitude is the best antidote for envy. Be thankful for what you have and for where you are. Remember when you used to pray for those things? And you have no idea how many people wish they could trade places with you. Giphy Worry #2: My biological clock is ticking! Age affects the fertility of men and women.Studies show that as women age, the chances of conceiving drop.Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and as they get older, the eggs get fewer.A woman’s fertility starts to reduce in her early 30s. By age 40, only 1 in 10 women will get pregnant per menstrual cycle. Remedy:Freeze your eggs.Believe in miracles.Consider adoption.If you really want to be a biological mother, your age may be another source of worry if you’re still single.Thanks to modern technology, though, there are ways to increase your chances of having a baby and a healthy one even when you’re 35 and up. Some women opt for other fertility options like IVF or donor eggs.If you can afford it, you can freeze your eggs until you’re ready to have a baby.Remember the stories of Sara and Elizabeth in the Bible? Some people don’t believe in miracles or God, but that’s their call. If God can make Sara a mother at the age of 90 and Elizabeth was 88 when he gave birth to John...Don’t you think you also have the chance to get pregnant even when you’re beyond the ideal age? Hopefully, not as old as these legendary women in the Bible, of course.Nothing’s impossible with a God who can turn water into wine and raise the dead.Believe that you are just as highly favored as the people in the Bible.Or maybe the child for you is already out there, from another family. Waiting for a parent who can give them a better life. GfycatWorry #3: When is Prince Charming going to rescue me? The problem here is all in the head.Maybe because Disney conditioned us to believe that Prince Charming is the only way to get us to the life we want.So when it takes too long for your knight in shining armor to come and get you, you wonder if he’ll arrive.Or if there’s something wrong with you because why wouldn’t anyone want to rescue a fair lady like yourself?Remedy:Get rid of your Cinderella complex. You’ll get disappointed if you depend on others to give you what you need. Waiting for The One will be easier if your love tank is full. Then, it will be an exciting adventure.Remember: You’re not a damsel in distress who needs saving. You’re capable enough to take care of yourself. Stop waiting for love, marriage, and Prince Charming to come along and rescue you, and start designing a life you don’t wish to be rescued from. - Mandy Hale Gfycat Worry #4: I’m not desirable enough. Am I not pretty?Am I too short? Or too tall?Am I not smart enough?Don’t I have the right personality?Am I not dating, girlfriend, or wife material?What is wrong with me? Remedy: Carry yourself with grace.Work on finding your self-worth.Believe that you are enough. Because you really are.Be careful how you talk to yourself because you listen (Lisa M Hayes).God doesn’t create rejects. Just because the glossy pages of beauty magazines tell you you’re not the standard of beauty doesn’t mean they’re right. Who are they to say? They’re just as imperfect as you are.Those women are loaded with heavy makeup and are Photoshopped.Remember that you are beautiful and worthy just the way you are.Nothing is more beautiful and irresistible than confidence. GiphyWorry #5: I’ll end up alone and miserable!Maybe you’ve met old single women who are grumpy and hateful.Maybe you’ve been watching too many movies where they portray women beyond their marrying age as desperate and hostile characters.Or maybe you’ve been putting your happiness in other people’s hands.That’s why you’re worried that you’ll never find joy if you don’t find a partner.Remedy:Choose to be happy! You are as happy and as lonely as you decide to be. Happiness cannot and will never be found in another person or from an outside source. Find the pros of being alone. Being alone is not tantamount to being miserable. You can be in a relationship and still be discontented and lonely. Two happy individuals make a happy relationship. If you’re unhappy in your own company, don’t expect others to be. Giphy Summary: Common Worries and Remedies for Single WomenThe next time worries about being single rear their ugly heads, you know what to do.Kick envy with gratitude.Believe you are favored.Design a life you don’t need rescuing from.Know your worth.Choose to be happy. Never ever compare your story with others, especially those in the movies. Your story is unique. Don’t insult your Maker. It’s not hard to be single. There are many perks to being alone.You’re free. You have a blank canvas.It’s actually exciting if you think about it.Knowing you have many options is like walking at a buffet table.Don’t listen to those making you feel like an outcast because you’re not in a relationship.You’re not!And they don’t hold your future. Stop overthinking and start believing.Stop betting against yourself and start being your own cheerleader.You’re exactly where you should be. But no, you won’t be stuck there forever. Unless you want to. Are you single? What worries you, and what do you do about them?
Life Lessons Things Work Out Even When You Think They Don't 11:20 PM There’s no such thing as coincidence in God’s plans. This post originally appeared on Epic Mommy Adventures as a guest blog post for Unmarried And Singles American Week celebration. Click here to read the full article. Here's an excerpt: Things Work Out Even When You Think They Don't If you think things don't work out, think again. Maybe it didn't work out with a certain person because it will work out with someone better. Maybe that job will hinder you from growing and becoming the best that you could be. Maybe that friendship is more harmful to you than it does you good. There’s no such thing as coincidence in God’s plans. Things are meant to happen—even the things that didn't work out are supposed to happen. That’s a bitter pill to swallow especially when you hoped that they will work out; When you've given your all to the other person, hoping that it will work out the way you wanted it to. When you've worked so hard for maybe almost as long as you can remember for a company that didn’t appreciate your effort. When you've trusted a friend 100% and they ended up betraying you in the end. The pain will be too much. It might stop you from believing again. But don't let it. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Lux Thinking Aloud Just The Way You Are 1:42 AM Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr. Seuss "You are beautiful just the way you are." How many times have we heard that line? In the movies, in the books, and the in the lyrics of some songs. I've heard it a million times. But the one time I couldn't forget that was one afternoon when I was feeling lost. I was just starting on my first job then. I was 20, a fresh grad, hungry and full of dreams. I was still vulnerable and naive. Naturally, a little gossip and badmouthing could shatter me. I couldn't remember what issue got me really down then but I remember questioning myself. Was there something wrong with me? Was I too different? What do I need to fit in, to be like the rest so they won't always see me and my mistakes? Just then I heard Joey McIntyre's song play: Don't you ever wish you were someone else, You were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are. When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, 'cause there's nothing 'bout you I would change. Coincident? I don't think so. I must have looked like a loony looking crestfallen then suddenly breaking into a smile. I felt God reassuring me that the world will try to change me into something or someone I'm not, but I am exactly the way He created me to be. I was, still am, and will always be enough. I was, still am, and will always be beautiful just the way I am. I was, still am, and will always be the apple of His eye. Because He doesn't create rejects. Because I am not here by mistake. I have a purpose. Because He created every cell of my body intricately. Because He knit me together in my mother's womb. Because I am His, He created me in His own image and likeness. Because He said so. No rumor, no gossip, no badmouthing, no criticism, no lies can change who I truly am in the eyes of God. No mistake, no error, and no failure from my end can lessen His love for me. No one can tell me I'm not good enough or I'm not worthy. Because Someone important laid down His life for me, as He did for you. Because my love, you are beautiful and you are worthy just the way you are. See also: Know Your Worth There's Nothing Ordinary About You Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Lux Thinking Aloud Oh, Life! 5:33 AM Oh, life! Thou art so cruel. Thou art so sweet. I was chatting with a childhood friend I haven't seen for a long time. She's so anxious because anytime now, she's going to be giving birth to her first child. We were talking like we used to and it dawned on me that day by day it seems nothing has changed. But when you look back everything's different. All the horrors, all the changes in her body, in her life...she said she's not ready to be a mom just yet. I think nobody is. But when it's there, you just grab it and make the best of it. Well, who am I to say. I've never given birth yet. Contemplating on that, I was browsing my news feed when another friend posted that she's in deep pain because her son just passed away. Wow! I'm right here, thinking about my great unknown, and here's someone my age mourning the loss of her child. Already! All three of us were once so careless, were just enjoying our youth, we're busy preparing for our future. A mother expecting her first child. A mother grieving the loss of her son. And a woman who still has a blank canvass observing everything. You can say, one is quite late for the role expected of her. One is too young to experience something so sudden. The other is trapped in the uncertainty of life. I am thrilled for my expectant friend. But, my heart also breaks for my friend who has lost one of the most important persons in her life. Both are emotions too extreme to feel at once. Oh, life! How sweet and how cruel. Sometimes you're on our side, sometimes you're against us. How enigmatic. How puzzling. How inexplicable. You've got me dumbfounded again. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith There's Nothing Ordinary About You 5:13 AM Before you know if you have red hair or brown, before you know if you are black or white, before you know of what religion you are a part, you have to know that you are loved. -Michael Jackson There's nothing ordinary about you. The reason why we feel inadequate and unworthy is because of shame. Shame is the cancer of the soul. We feel ashamed for what we have done in the past. We feel ashamed if we don't fit in; if we don't speak the right words, if we don't drive the right car, if we don't wear the right clothes. We feel unworthy because we are unkind to ourselves. We keep playing the mistakes we have done in the past over and over again like an old movie. We look down on ourselves. We become our own judge and executioner which makes us hate ourselves more. Don't be too hard on yourself. Get involved in a community or group where people don't judge you and look at your wrong but those who lift you higher. Bask in God's unconditional love, kindness and mercy. Be like the sponge. The sponge may be dirty, but it can clean.Use your scars to be like stars that light up other people's darkness. Turn your mess into a message. You are extraordinary because an extraordinary God created you and loves you like you haven't sin at all. If God can make the sinful women in the Bible like Tamar become Jesus' ancestor, He can use you to make extraordinary things happen. Treat yourself with kindness the way God treats you and live an extraordinary life. Because there's nothing ordinary about you. From Women Gone Wild Talk 1: Dangerous at The Feast
Listicle Monday Gratitude List 5 12:17 PM Mon in French means "my". I declare that Monday is my day. My day to start being grateful for many things. Monday Gratitude List 5 1. My ads finally got approved! What took me so long? I was hesitant because I was thinking small. Blogging is just a hobby, I often say. Then I thought, why not profit from this thing I take pleasure in doing? So I applied for ads and after 20 days of proof that my site is often visited by people from different places, my ads finally got approved. Thank you, God! 2. Yesterday it was raining really hard and the wind was really strong. After fighting the weather with our frail umbrella, my friend and I gave in, closed it and walked in the rain. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed walking in the rain. I forgot how magical it feels. 3. Finally feeling better after almost a week of discomfort. Fever, headache, pain I couldn't quite locate where. A woman's body can get really weird sometimes. Glad it's over. 4. My business is really really really doing well. Thanks to my loyal customers who not only buy the products but also endorse them to others. I'm happy whenever they tell me how happy and satisfied they are. Profit, pleasure, purpose. Value for money! 5. Slept in last weekend. I also watched (for the nth time) one of my favorite comfort movies; Julie & Julia. I love how two lives from different generations seems to be so interconnected. I love how two women made a dent in the world by just being who they are and doing what they love, being perfectly imperfect in their roles. Most of all, I love how perfect their husbands are. Makes me hopeful that indeed Good Men Still Exist. What are you grateful for today? Join the Grateful LinkUp. Get the InLinkz code here. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Love Yourself In 10 Practical Ways 2:39 AM Love yourself. You only have one you. Written for The Praying Woman You don't have to be told to love yourself or to be taught on how to do it. But do we really do it? Allow me to remind you (and myself) on how to REALLY love yourself and show it. Love Yourself In 10 Practical Ways Get lots of rest. Working hard has it's rewards but don't let yourself get overworked. Learn to prioritize so that you won't be behind your schedule and compromise yourself. You need 6-8 hours of sleep everyday. Don't abuse your health by staying up late doing nothing important or sweating the small stuff. Invest wisely. Because you don't want to starve if you have to or want to stop working. Because you would want to afford your own medicine when you get old and sick. Because you don't want to be a burden to your family when you retire. Because you would still want to enjoy life traveling, eating in restaurants your heart desires, buying stuff you like or starting a new hobby in the years to come. Remove toxic people from your life. As I often mention in this blog, toxic people will suck the energy out of you until you've got none left. You can't love yourself but allow others to treat you badly. Walk away from vampires. Or love them from a distance (concept from Bo Sanchez's teachings). Protect yourself from abuse in all forms. Stop chasing the wrong person, stop hanging out with the wrong crowd. This is different from #3 because this is being with the wrong company deliberately. This is knowing what's right for you but sticking with what's wrong. Make the right choice. Select the healthier option when deciding what to eat. Always think about the consequences of your actions. Choose the pain of training and work over pain of regrets and failure. Encourage yourself. Zig Ziglar said "Motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." Do what you can to encourage yourself. Laugh hard and laugh often. Here's another quote: "Laughter is the best medicine." Studies back this up by showing the benefits of laughter in our body. Watch comedy films, read funny books, hang out with funny people. Do more of what makes you happy. Make more time for your passion as it fires you up like no other. Listen to what your body is telling you. If you're tired, rest. If you're hurt, cry and don't hold back. If you're bothered, deal with your issue. If you don't feel well, it must be an indication of something. Don't just take medicine and numb the pain. For the faithful, worship more. Worshiping nourish the soul. And when you nourish your soul, beautiful things happen in your life. For the unbeliever, I think you can focus more on your goals to also find purpose or drive. I'm not sure how that works for you. Maybe you can share in the comment box below. My final word: Love yourself. You only have one you. How do you love yourself? Photos from Google images. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Change The Way You Think And Set Yourself Free 1:36 PM Everything you can imagine is real. -Pablo Picasso Change the Way You Think and Set Yourself Free Imagine this: Imagine a lemon. Imagine yourself cutting it into half. Imagine squeezing the lemon into your mouth. Can you taste the sourness or that distinct taste of citrus? Did your facial muscle do that reflex action you do with lemon juice in your mouth? Question: Was there a real lemon? None. But, why did your body react in a way as if real lemon juice touched your tongue? Now try to recall a moment you felt hurt. Your parents made you feel rejected. Your teacher said or implied that you're stupid. Your friend betrayed you. You have been scammed by someone you trust. You've been taken for granted or abused. Remember your first heartbreak. Remember losing someone or something important to you. Did it hurt? Was the pain real? Yes. Maybe not as intense as it was when it happened, but you felt it. Question: Did it happen again? It didn't. It happened. It's in the past. It was done. It was finished. But the pain is still there because you thought of it. You imagined it. The trauma, the heartbreak happened years ago. Maybe a month ago. Maybe only yesterday or just a few hours ago. But it has already occurred. It happened. It's over. The pain we felt was of our own doing. Although I am yet to read the research done, I've read somewhere that, emotional pain lasts for 12 minutes. Anything longer than that is considered to be self-inflicted. Use this power of imagination to let go of the things that are not worth holding on to. Imagine yourself free: free from despair, free from the painful memories of the past that has been haunting you. Imagine yourself living the life you've always wanted. Imagine yourself climbing mountains, globe-trotting, spending your time on the things you enjoy and not on the things you have to endure. Imagine yourself financially free, absolutely happy, totally at peace with yourself. Imagine yourself having the kind of family you want to have. Imagine yourself serving and giving back to the world simply because you're too blessed and your cup overflows that you have to give some of it away. Imagine yourself becoming the person you've always aspired to become. Imagine yourself taking charge of your life. Albert Einstein said "Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." What we know of things can only bring us to certain places but our imagination can give us a magic carpet ride ANYWHERE. Change the movie playing in your mind right now, and be ready for the ride of your life. Change the way you think dramatically and set yourself free. I've learned this imagination exercise at The Feast. Gifs from Giphy
Listicle Monday Gratitude List 4 11:24 AM Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust Get your grateful hearts ready! Monday is here! Monday Gratitude List 4 1. I'm grateful for people like Jon Morrow. I've been benefiting a lot because of his generosity in sharing his blogging knowledge and experiences. 2. Writing keeps me sane. The world plus PMS (!) can be really really tough. Thank God writing is so therapeutic. 3. Reaping the goodness that I sow. What goes around comes around. So I make sure that I plant as many good seeds as I can. You'll never know what's going to get you someday. 4. The Word that guides me when everything seems blurry. It's like a lighthouse on a dark stormy night. 5. I am grateful for the supportive and encouraging messages I get from friends and strangers alike. Words are so powerful. It can do wonders. What are you most grateful for today? Join the Grateful LinkUp. Get the InLinkz code here. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email