Guest Blogger Ultimate 30 While In Your 30’s Checklist 5:00 PM Just because you’re grown up and then some doesn’t mean settling into the doldrums of predictability. Surprise people. Surprise yourself. -Victoria Moran If you’re freaking out because it’s as though you’re just aging but you’ve accomplished nothing, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Guest blogger Ifeoma of Purposeful and Meaningful will show you how to age or more appropriately, how to handle your big 3-0 gracefully: Turning 30 or in your 30’s and have read a lot of ‘before 30 bucket list’? How does that feel? Mixed emotions? Interesting that it means a lot to us approaching 30 or in our 30’s. If you’re like me, you may have written a list you wish to accomplish before you reach this milestone. Pressure builds when friends and family remind you of the things in your life that aren’t working or unaccomplished. I don’t like that pressure. Do you? Don’t let others insist their dreams on you. Relax. Write your own checklist. Give yourself grace if they don’t go as planned. Here’s mine: Ultimate 30 While In Your 30’s Checklist Learn something new often. Make it count. Be serious about building your financial life. Move to somewhere new especially when you’ve been there too long. New places come with fresh ideas and new friends. Live simpler. Less whining, more grace. Get a better job or change careers if you’re not happy anymore. Get over fear, and venture into a new career. Redesign your home. Find new home design inspirations. Up your game. Dress better, speak better. Carriage is important to boost self-confidence. Books are worthy investments. Invest in them. Visit new places; try their dishes. You never can tell what goodies abound. Ask your friends to describe you in “One Word”. True friends would tell you who you are even if you don’t like to hear the truth. Never give up on your dreams and passion. Miracles still happen. Write your life history to see how God has been faithful. It’s a game-changer. Married? Go on vacation alone. Re-examine your life. Are you lost caring for everyone else but yourself? If there’s anything worth committing to, it’s your spiritual life. It’s the foundation for every area of your life. Be intentional. Invest time growing your relationships. Take time each week to appreciate nature. Write an appreciation list, a gratitude journal, or your thankful list with people who’ve been there for you. Write a forgiveness list; all the people your heart needs to release including yourself and your past. Write a help list. Extend kindness to someone on your list. Make a friendship list. Old friends are great, new friends are fun but you need a blend of both. Write positive notes each week to glean your thoughts to focus. Attitude matters. Laugh more, smile more, pray more, and believe more. Be joyful. Social media may be stifling your real-life connections. Do a recheck. Health is important. Take it very seriously. Join a gym, dance club, and take regular walks. Join positive online communities. Sign up with my sweet friend Lux on About life And Love and come chat with me on Purposeful and Meaningful. Volunteer. Get involved in community projects. Make goals. Plan better. Find a mentor. Mentor someone. Write a living list and avoid a bucket list that works you up. I’m giving you this as a compliment. See and use mine as a template, and fill in yours! Download Living List. Excellent, right? Now your turn...what’s on your ultimate 30 while in your 30's list? What advice can you share? About the author: Ifeoma Samuel is happily married to her sweetheart Obiora Samuel. She is an author, a blogger, and a Speaker at various women conferences in South Africa. She uses her writings to share everyday life stories about God's immense love. She is the author of My 30 Days Journey To a Fulfilled Life. Visit her blog Purposeful And Meaningful and follow her on Pinterest | Facebook
Listicle 5 Ways To Survive Post Holiday Blues 1:00 AM Every day, there's a reason to celebrate. Time flies when you're having fun. From the scale of 1-10, how excited are you to return to your normal schedules after the holidays? -5? You're not alone. Almost everyone dread the first day back from the season that's merry and bright. Here's how to survive them post holiday blues. 5 Ways To Survive Post Holiday Blues Hydrate If you partied hard, you might still be feeling hungover. Drink plenty of water or better yet, have some sports drink. Alcohol leaves you dehydrated so you need to regain all the fluids you lost. Sports drink will make you feel less lethargic too. Be physically active Exercise, dance, run, go to the gym. Do whatever floats your boat as long as you get those adrenaline pumping up again. It will also release happy hormones that of course will take the blues away. Now is also a good time to shed off those pounds you gained from the parties you went to, don't you think? Keep the holiday spirit Just because the most wonderful time of the year is over doesn't mean you have to stop being kind and gracious to others. Doing good will make you feel good. Share You're not the only one who enjoyed the holidays. Have fun swapping stories with your friends. It will make you focus on the essence of the holidays and the memories rather than feel dreary being back in the "ordinary". Change your mindset It's a matter of perspective. If you think happiness and enjoyment can only be found in the holidays, then you'll be blue for the rest of the year. Change how you see things. You can be happy in any day. You can make legendary happen in the mundane. Exceptional things can come out from the ordinary. Every day, there's a reason to celebrate. So how did you prepare for this most loathed, most dreaded Monday of the year? Gifs 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
Lux Thinking Aloud No Resolution New Year 5:00 PM I'm not going to ask this new year to be good or kind to me. I want it to hit me with its best shot. No Resolution New Year Happy New Year!!! Am I the only one around here who's glad the last year is finally over? Not an easy year, I tell you. But hey, I've survived. So did you. Congrats to us! Giphy Most people start the new year with a new set of to-do's, goals, the undying new year's resolution even. I've stopped making resolutions since I've realized I keep on disappointing myself anyway. I still make simple and short-term goals though. I still hold on to my dreams---and work hard for it. I still plan for what I want to happen and achieve for the year ahead. I just make sure I focus on what I really want to happen next. Focus really is the key. Plus deliberate action. Giphy Tough as last year was for me, I'm still thankful I made it through, and I made it through better. I'm not going to ask this new year to be good or kind to me. I want it to hit me with its best shot. I'm scared as usual but ready just the same. Cheers to another 12 months of scary and beautiful uncertainties, life surprises, and endless possibilities. With my imperfect faith, I'm all geared up for what this year will throw at me. I hope you are too. Ready for a no resolution New Year?
Listicle 3 Signs You Need To Say Goodbye 6:29 AM Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny. -Steve Maraboli Saying goodbye is part of life. But what are the indicators that it's time? When do we stop holding on to people we care about, or at least distance ourselves from them? 3 Signs You Need To Say Goodbye 1. The relationship gets toxic.When, at the end of the day, the relationship leaves you exhausted rather than refreshed. When, instead of nourishing your soul, it poisons it. When it's slowly killing you. When it's robbing your joy and peace of mind, it's a clear sign you need to say goodbye. Gif 2. You constantly get rejected. When you try to reach out, stay in touch, and involve people in your life, but they don't reciprocate. Every time you try to schedule time with them, they either cancel or decline upfront. When you offer them your time, service, or love and they don't want any of it, what's the point of staying? Surely, you need to say goodbye when the rejection keeps happening. Giphy 3. You stopped growing together.When you have to cancel your own plans to give way to them. When being in that relationship feels like it's clipping your wings and keeps you from flying, so to speak. When you feel like it's going nowhere. When, for some reason, it stops you from becoming the person you're destined to become because you always have to put them first.Feeling stuck because the relationship is not letting you explore and expand is a sign that you need to say goodbye. Tenor Why you need to say goodbyeSaying goodbye helps us heal emotionally, grow personally, and handle life changes smoothly. It gives us closure, lets us express gratitude, and heightens emotional awareness. It maybe painful at first to say goodbye to something or someone who has been a part of your life for quite a while. But spare yourself from further pain and misery by ending it as soon as you can.We say goodbye to draining jobs and places we're familiar with; often, we also need to say goodbye to relationships that don't work and friendships we thought would never end. Ultimately, you'll realize that you're better off. Some people may play an important role in a certain episode of your life, but you don't need them until the season finale to complete your story.
Faith 4 Things To Do When Faced With Difficult Times 5:00 PM We all have our stories of pain and difficult times. How our story ends though is up to us. What are the things you do when you're faced with difficult times? Here's what Charmaine did: Almost ten months ago, my mother was diagnosed with late stage cervical cancer. The diagnosis didn’t just turn her life around but mine, too. The past ten months have been really rough. When I look back, I’m in awe of how we managed to survive. I can’t help but wonder at how merciful, faithful and gracious God has always been; He enabled us to make it through each painful and trying day. I don’t know what you’re going through. Maybe someone you love is currently fighting the same battle my mother is faced. Maybe you’re dealing with an unspeakable pain nobody understands, no matter how much you try. The bottom line is: we’re tired. We carry burdens every day but our shoulders aren’t that strong. Our hearts are about to faint. Some of us are near the end of the rope. What do we do? 4 Things To Do When Faced With Difficult Times1. We Hold On To Our Faith Hebrews 11:1 states “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Based on this, faith is two things. First, it’s confidence in what we hope for. For me, it means putting my confidence in what God said over what my eyes see. It means hoping on God’s promises despite what my circumstances. It means getting up on days you’d rather stay in bed, smiling on days you want to cry, and continue with your life like you’re carrying nothing because God is faithful to you every step of the way. 2. We Rest In God’s Feet When we wake up to difficult circumstances, we shouldn’t busy ourselves, trying to figure out how we’ll make it through our trouble. Instead, we sit at Jesus’ feet and receive from Him. It doesn’t mean that we should stop working. Resting in God’s feet means we honor our quality time with Him. We continue to seek Him so our minds get renewed and we see our situation from His perspective; not from our limited sight. This way, we are not only renewed, we are encouraged and revived. 3. We Trust In God’s Will We don’t always understand God’s will. Some things happen which we can’t comprehend. Maybe in your struggle, you asked God why. I did. I often ask Him why He allowed cancer to strike and debilitate my mother. As I seek Him, I understand that when God leads us to deeper waters, we can be assured that He has His reasons. We can trust in the knowledge that our circumstances are going to be for our good and for His glory. 4. We Stay In His Love The truth is, either my mother will be cured of cancer or she will die of it or of something else. I struggled with accepting this fact before. But now, I already understand God’s purpose. It’s still painful and I can’t even imagine how painful it’s going to be if my greatest fear happens instead of my greatest hope. Whatever happens, I know God will give me the grace to stay in His love. Whatever it is you’re dealing with, if you trust Him and you surrender your life to Him, I’m positive He will do the same for you, too. About the author: Charmaine is the founder and editor-in-chief of inspirational blog Organized Lunacy. She’s in a mission to spread inspiration and motivation to people who can use some. Join her in her journey in spreading love and hope to make this world a better place to live in.
