When Life Feels Messy

Do you ever feel like a bit of a mess? Like in some way, some part of your life feels crazy and chaotic and messy and you can't figure out how to get it together? 

Maybe you're doing really well at your job, but you keep finding yourself in unhealthy relationships and can't figure out why. Maybe you are in school right now, in a great relationship, but you have no idea if you even like what you're studying and what kind of career you want. Maybe you live with your mom, don't have a job, and are going through a devastating breakup. 

I don't know what's going on in your life, but I can confidently guess that if you were to take an inventory of your life, you probably wouldn't decide that it is perfect. There are probably areas of your life where you feel you could use some growth or improvement. There may even be areas of your life you are legitimately angry about - because it feels messy and it doesn't feel like your fault. 

Whatever the case may be, I just want to provide you with some encouragement today. Life is messy. Life is great and life is hard. There are times where we have our stuff together and times where everything is falling apart. C'est la vie, y'all. That's life. 

Does that mean you just have to accept whatever is coming your way, whatever is breaking, whatever mess you find yourself in? No. There are things you can do to improve your situation and surroundings. There are people and resources (and life coaches... and a great God!) around you who are all available to help you bring beauty out of whatever mess you find in your life. But it does mean that it's okay. It's okay that you sometimes feel like a mess. It's normal and it's temporary. It's life. 

So, don't be bogged down with the aspects of life that are confusing or messy or scary. C'est la vie, y'all. Don't buy into the lie that because your life is a mess in some way, you are "less" in some way. C'est la vie, y'all. Don't be discouraged when things don't turn out the way you thought they would. C'est la vie, y'all. And la vie est belle.

Seeking Health Through Adventure

If I could be super totally honest with y'all for a minute, I have been walking through one of the toughest seasons of my life this summer. It's not yet something I feel totally comfortable talking about, but it is why you have been seeing less of me over the last several weeks.

In the midst of this stormy season, one of the ways I've been seeking personal growth and health is through traveling. By making every day a daring adventure, I am more eager to embrace the highs and lows that will inevitably come.

Adventure requires strength, flexibility, and movement. It can include uncertainty, danger, and risk. But it is almost always exciting and sometimes ends in some sort of victory. Those are my favorite adventures - when I am successful or victorious in some way.

This week, I dare you to think about your life as one big adventure. Embrace all it brings and be thankful for the opportunity you have to live with such fullness! Be an adventurer and a conqueror this week, beloved!

New Books from Stephanie May Wilson!

Have you ever had anyone in your life that has inspired you? You look at their life and love and heart with not jealousy, but great admiration and longing for growth? Stephanie May Wilson has been that for me. I've been following her life journey since October of 2012 and have been so poured into from her ministry to young women.

In December of 2014, I published a blog post reviewing her book, #TheLipstickGospel. I published that blog to reagannash.com a few months later. Her story is one of a heart-wrenching breakup, an inspiring study abroad trip, her adjustment back into the "real world," and her first (and accidental) mission trip. She is authentic, hilarious, and inspiring in retelling her life-changing conversion to Christ.

Now, she has written a devotional and a prayer journal to follow, and it's being released SOON on JULY 10!! Keep your eyes peeled for its release so you can take part in the sweet and gentle transformation of Stephanie's story.

Love you all and always grateful to offer resources for growth! The #LipstickGospel is definitely one of those resources, y'all!!

cherished mementos

One of the hardest things about simplifying your possessions is figuring out what to do with the mementos you have from loved ones: photos, notes, letters, cards, little gifts, and more.

It’s hard to let go.

Recently on Twitter someone asked: “Both parents gone. Tried to keep small things, photos – even then it’s alot of stuff. Regret tossing some notes & cards ..help?”

I can’t imagine how hard that would be, losing both parents and trying to hold on to memories of them. So I won’t try to give advice there. What I can do is say what has worked for me in allowing myself to let go of possessions but hold on to memories:

1. Scan. Old photos, letters, cards, notes, report cards, kids’ drawings, awards, etc. All can be scanned and saved into your computer. Use a program such as Evernote to keep them all organized, synced among your computers, and backed up online.

2. Take pictures. If the object can’t be scanned (a little teddy bear, or a wedding dress), take a digital photo. Keep them all organized via Google’s Picasa photo program — it’ll also store everything online, privately if you want, and you can use it to sync between computers. Wouldn't a picture of someone holding or wearing or using something you love mean more, anyway?

3. Share with others. Give some of the most treasured things to others who will enjoy having them. Allow them to pass them on to other loved ones, etc., so the love and memories can be spread rather than hoarded.

4. Box things. If you really can’t part with things, even after scanning and taking photos of them, put them in boxes and put them out of sight, in storage, marked with a date that’s 6 months from now. On that date, open the box and if you realize you didn’t really need the items, then pass them on or toss them.

5. Remember what’s important. It’s not the actual, physical objects that matter — these you can learn to let go of, with time. What matters is the memories. If you can hold on to the memories, by looking through scanned letters and photos on your computer from time to time, then you’re good.

This post was originally crafted by Leo Babauta and edited by me. 

Want to change the world? You can! Change the way you live. Change your world.

Want to live in a car-free world? Stop using a car. Now the world you live in becomes one in which you walk, bike, and use mass transit. Others might not follow, but that’s their choice. If you want to live where there aren’t any cars, there exist such places (seriously, Google it!) and you can move to one of those places if that’s important to you. But already, you can live in a car-free world.

Want to live in a world where your food isn’t shipped thousands of miles and grown unsustainably by agribusiness? Start a garden. You can just start with one plant, and then another, and another until you have enough to eat eventually. Or start a community garden, or use farmer’s markets, or join (or start) a CSA. You can make a difference in the world just by changing the way you consume your food.

Want to live in a non-consumerist world? Stop buying things. Make things last, reuse things and move to reusable things (such as cloth napkins and glass containers). Fix things when they break, trade your unwanted belongings to others, join Freecycle. Stop watching ads (which might mean you stop watching TV or reading ad-supported magazines and newspapers). Write to your local officials and ask them to create regulations on advertising to children. If you want to stop being a compulsory consumer, you can. 

Want to live in a paperless world? Stop buying and using paper. Want to live in a world with no orphans? Adopt. Want to live in a world with no trash? Embrace a zero-waste lifestyle. Want to conserve water? Do it. 

If you want a change, then make a change. You likely can't change the whole world for everyone living in it, but you can certainly change the world you live in. 

This post was originally crafted by Leo Babauta and edited by me.