Stop. Get Some Help

Planning New Year's Resolutions (Those are still a thing, right?)

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My Dear Lovelians,

Let’s talk about New Year’s Resolutions. Do People even make them anymore? I know I didn’t until, well, now. I’ve always had a sort of go-with-the-flow kind of attitude, a let-life-do-what-it-does mindset, and while there’s nothing strictly wrong with this lifestyle per say, I’m just not content anymore with jumping from one life event to the next and missing everything in between. Vacation days nail me between the eyes, and I end up doing nothing I’d really like to because I don’t see them coming.

Compliments of me and my sisters

This is half my New Year’s Resolution. Plan for pauses. I don’t mean fill my schedule with random activities (otherwise, I would have gained nothing over Christmas break). I mean, involve myself with my schedule enough to know when most of my breaks occur so I can brainstorm a little and maybe buy the materials to try a new craft project instead of lamenting how I would have done that if I’d had more notice, which I do for the most part. I just typically don’t log time off in my brain until it’s arrived and I’m twiddling my thumbs wondering what I should do with my time.

The other half consists of removing hurry from my life as much as possible. I mean, I’ve already started (see Good Riddance Inconvenience). But this has been only the tip of the iceberg. No, I’m not referring to emergency situations. I’m just saying I don’t want to live as though every situation in life initiated ‘Emergency Mode.’ I mean, seriously. SLOW DOWN. I don’t need eggs that badly.

My favorite slippers

I’ve also come to some pretty important decisions as a result of everything I’ve been digging up since becoming a Lovelian. So far, I’ve uncovered many secrets that have helped me solidify a good foundation for the life I’m pursuing. Well…they aren’t exactly secrets; I just *cough* never really *cough cough* cared enough to, ah, pay attention when people talked about them, so… ANYWAYS. I think a good summary of my discoveries to date has been choosing silence and stillness over distraction and hurry (see previous letters). These have been fundamental in helping me realize I can’t do everything on my own.

What do I mean? Stop and get some help. When the books, YouTube videos, and Bible verse memorizations just aren’t having the effect you want (or need). Stop and get a new perspective. I don’t mean mosey or amble while continuing on the same path that doesn’t work. I mean stop-and-face-the-music stop and figure out how to really move forwards. Yeah, okay, my brain sort of experienced a mini crisis when I finally admitted this truth to myself. And the resolutions I’ve made have propelled me to find some assistance of my own.

Christmas projects all over the table

I know. Who knew teachers, mentors, and field professionals can actually help you achieve your goals in life? This may look like taking a live, in-person class to receive some personal attention in a field you want to grow in; it may look like counseling (let’s undo the stigma around this word, shall we? Because these people know what they’re doing and have the potential to change your life and, let’s face it, the people around you too); it could look like a life coach or a personal trainer. The list of possibilities is endless! The keys are knowing what you want and having the guts to pursue it (and all the Slytherins say AMEN).

What is it exactly that I want and am planning to achieve? Why, what every Lovelian desires. To fall in love with life one day at a time. I guess the proper language is “planning to take seriously,” as life is sort of an ongoing thing, not a one-time achievement. Up until this point, I’ve been enjoying movies in the theatres with my sisters, family chats and games after dinner (Planet Earth Trivia is always fun. You come away feeling both smarter and dumber), Christmas crafts, videogames, and other leisure activities I haven’t allowed myself to do because they are not “productive,” and generally not doing anything related to getting ahead in, well, anything.

Christmas Eve Part 1

So how does one plan to life? Aren’t these things good enough? Good question. Welcome to Dear Old World, the blog dedicated to figuring out the answer to these types of questions. And as I believe Jesus’ claim to be “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” I’ve started with asking Him. This means while I’m building Legos in my spare time, I talk to Him and open the space up for Him to answer if He so chooses. Walk with Me is often the answer I receive (or silence. Silence is common too), so that’s what I’ve been doing, making time to be with Him as often as possible in the stillness. This is how I’ve concluded that I will not be able to move forwards unless I stop and get some help. I mean, technically there’s nothing wrong with the activities mentioned above. I just wouldn’t mind a little more. Is that wrong? We’ll see.

Christmas Eve Part 2

Summarizing a long, drawn-out spiel:

1. Set a goal — c’mon, be a Slytherin in all the best ways! (This is coming from a person in House Hufflepuff)

2. Identify obstacles (self-explanatory)

3. Remove said obstacles — this may take time, planning, and effort. Remember, there’s no rush! (also I’ve found you often can’t rush these things anyways, so…)

4. Enjoy the process — as my mama says, “Life is the messy bits,” so you might as well enjoy as much of it as possible. Even the parts you can’t bring yourself to enjoy, you can at the very least take heart in the resilient, strong person you are becoming. I know I have. How do I know? Why because I keep a journal…duh.

Happy New Year,

Olivia

Taking a walk to see the Christmas lights...my favorite house

P.S. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer has changed my life. I highly recommend it.