On the contra-ary!

This semester, I have discovered a new pastime.

Dancing. Contra dancing, to be exact. :-)


I am terrible at it, but I really don't give a care. It's fun.

Contra dancing is like a cross between square dancing and English country dancing (or something like that), complete with cheesy music and someone telling you what to do the whole time.

Now, doesn't that just sound wonderful?
I was very skeptical that I would like it at first, but I suppose even skeptics like me can be proven wrong once.

I think the being terrible part comes from having a dance partner.
I'm used to dancing by myself.
At least I can blame my partner if I don't do well!

It's kind of confusing at first. There are almost too many steps to follow.

Nevertheless, I like it.
One does get the hang of it.

I've been twice with a group of friends, and I wouldn't be opposed to going again.
It kind of makes me want to try other types of dance too!

Here's some of what the dancing looks like:

What's "love" again?

Though I’m single, I have a Valentine’s Day tradition that I’ve kept for a few years now.

When I woke up this morning, I remembered the date on the calendar, and I lay in bed a few extra minutes to organize my thoughts.

It’s reflection. And on Valentine’s Day, love is the focus.

When I think of love, I don’t necessarily associate it with being in a relationship. There could be a day in the future when I thank God for a man in my life. Even so, I hope I will continue to focus on the way I think of love now.

Love isn’t exclusive. It isn’t just for those who are walking down the boulevards hand-in-hand with their significant others. Love is for everyone who is willing to accept it and give it away.

When I see those people walking hand-in-hand, I hope for their sakes that it’s love—not the “He’s hot, she’s hot” kind of "love", but the kind that actually makes a difference.

I draw my definition of love from the Bible. Though verses like 1 Corinthians 13 are quoted all the time, they offer the best definitions I’ve found.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

To me, love isn’t really love unless it’s striving to measure up to that. I keep saying the phrase “I love you” to a minimum because love means so much to me. I don’t take it lightly.

I realize that, though I’m single, there’s plenty I can do to show love to people. I just need to remember to be patient, kind, non-envious, non-boastful...

Despite the barrage of candy hearts, red roses and P.D.A. our society presents us with on Feb. 14, I pray I remember what love really is.

Then, I pray I can act on that love.
Love is an action after all.

On time as of late

Time management is a struggle with time.
If that's the case, my life is dictated by struggle.

Lately, I've been running myself ragged trying to keep up with a busy schedule.

But why?

I was talking with some girls who live on my hall during Small Group, a time each week when we study the Bible and talk.
Someone brought up the point that we need to pause and make time for things like spending time with God.

Now that's poignant.
Am I giving God my struggle?

I try so hard to be many things to many different people.
I love to get involved with everything.
And--believe me--I'm trying my best right now to keep track of each day.

However, I still find that, when I do too much, everything suffers.
That's not how I want it to be.
My philosophy is that my investment in whatever I do needs to be all or nothing.

The solution?
I don't have one yet.
I'm just hoping and praying for the best.

Technologically challenged?

I love technology.
It does not share the same affection for me.

It's obvious that we're living in a time when we are barraged with new tech things every day.

A new version of Windows! A new iPod! A new device to do all your homework for you!
(OK, OK. That last one doesn't exist yet. Don't sue a girl for dreaming.)

The attack of all things new and tech-y is quite annoying.

How can I ever have the time to learn everything?
By the time I get something mastered, something new comes along.
For example, I had a digital camera, and it was threatening to die on me.
I now have a nice, new camera that has me studying the user manual like it's my job or something.
Exhausting.

I have it better than some though.
I look at my grandparents trying to master their computers and cell phones and think myself fortunate for having grown up with such things.
Technology is so ingrained with everyday life.

Still, I sometimes wish I could do everything the old-fashioned way.
Is the paper-and-pencil way of doing things really so bad?

Then again, if I go into journalism, hand-writing the newspaper might make my hand cramp up after a while.

The irony is that, while I am sitting here lamenting my dependence on technology, I am using a computer. Like I said, I do like that we have what we have.

I just crave simplicity is all.

"Think strong thoughts, think strong thoughts..."

That may as well be a mantra that stirs wildly in my head as I go through each day.

I was just thinking about the title of this blog.
I meant it as a play on words (which, admittedly, may only make sense if you know me personally).
Then, I began to think about what it actually means to think "strong thoughts".

Whether or not I always focus consciously on being strong, I certainly feel the need to be that way.

And I'm not talking about physical strength here; I haven't been body building!
I'm talking about reassuring myself.

Do you ever feel the need to remind yourself that everything's going to be OK?
That's what I believe it means to think strong thoughts.
It's thinking positively!

There have been so many instances in my life when I have needed strength.
There's no way I would have made it through things like my grandfather's death or my first semester of college without God's help.

I guess the point of it all is knowing when you're not at your strongest and asking for help.
I try to think strong thoughts and allow God to be that strength.

Isn't that all I ever need to do?

Looking back and looking forward

Time is a tricky thing.
It always gets away from me.
Despite that, I always look forward to new things.
It's important for me to try to make the most of the time I have.
This new year has so many possibilities.
As I look forward, I also want to take the opportunity to look back.

Last year was amazing.
Many people would use the term 'amazing' to describe the past year, but, in my life,
there were many profound experiences that could not be described any other way.

If I had to think of just one word to sum up all of my experiences, that word would
be "firsts".

There were so many firsts.

To name a few things, 2008 saw me:

• Graduating from high school

12 years was a long time!

• Having a semi-definite idea of what I want to do for a living for the first time.

I want to do something with journalism, and, once I get my mind set on something
it's hard to tear my thoughts away from it.

• Moving away from home for the first time.

I had never lived away from my family. Yet, I was surprised to find that some of the people I would meet at college would come pretty close to being family.

• Learning to be more independent that I ever have.

I do my own laundry now, among many other things. :-)

• Settling into a new lifestyle of responsibility.

I find that people depend on me now more than ever before. Whether it be in school,
work, or clubs on campus, I stay busy! It is stressful sometimes, but another
'first' has been learning to manage everything.

The most amazing thing in the midst of everything that happened was that God was with me each day of the year.
There were days that I sat in my dorm room crying to God because I had no idea what I was doing.
There were also days that I thanked God
for every new thing I experienced and every new person I met.
He has been the only constant in life when everything around me has been changing.
Every day.
I am so amazingly blessed.

Last year was truly amazing!
Here's to another amazing year...

Bringin' procrastination at its best!

Unintentionally, I have confirmed the annoying stereotype of a typical college student.

I am a procrastinator.

When I started this blog, I did vow to write often.

I suppose it wasn't wise to make that promise.
With my packed-out schedule this past semester, this blog took a backseat to everything else.
And my schedule was packed.
In addition to a full-time class schedule, I worked two jobs, became involved with extracurricular activities, and (miraculously) maintained a social life.

Whew!

My infrequent writing does not mean that I'm as flaky as the leaves I crunch underfoot in the fall.
I'm just a busy woman who is still learning to manage time. :)


There are always New Years' resolutions for this sort of thing, right?