This time of year…with the rain coming in, nights getting darker, the air getting cooler, days getting quicker…I can’t help but get excited for Christmas. And with the fast approaching days of the Christmas season come the thoughts and dreams of family traditions. Stockings hung by the fireplace, decorating the tree, singing Christmas carols around the piano or jamming out to a Pentatonix Christmas album in the car. My heart sparkles at the thought of cheesy Christmas movies or books by the fire’s glow…warm cups of cocoa made just right…my favorite decorations we put out every year (like the Christmas villages with their sparkling lights!). I think about the foods that warm our bellies every Christmas morning, the soft pjs full of Christmas cheer that we don each Christmas eve…and most of all, I think of the beautiful candlelight Christmas Eve service which reminds us of our savior, His miraculous conception, and the beautiful and gracious gift of His birth. As I reflect on...
As I approach graduation, I am often faced with the question, "Are you ready?" Well meaning friends and family, or my own mind, ask me this question repeatedly. Honestly, I struggle to know the answer. Am I ready? Will I get everything done before graduation? Will I ever feel ready to spread my wings and fly into the next season of adulthood? I am honestly not the most qualified judge of my own readiness. I struggle sometimes in the midst of challenge and change to believe in myself and my capabilties. But I have been blessed this semester to be encouraged and pushed by the tough love of my professors. I was consistently behind in assignments for journalism and trying to communicate with my professor in order to convince myself that I could complete everything, despite the looming lack of time. Despite my efforts, I don't know that I really believed I could do it all. "You'll get it done. I know you will," said Melanie, my journalism professor, with simpl...
In my acting classes we begin class with a check - in. This is an opportunity to say whatever you need to say to be more present. My professor said something along the lines of, "I'm learning to be friends with the feeling of being behind." Already overwhelmed with my full schedule and many assignments, I sunk in my chair and muttered with a laugh, "well the feeling of being behind and I are going to be besties." I didn't realize at the time how true this statement would become. As a recovering perfectionist, learning to be okay with failure and not getting everything done all the time has been a continual life lesson. Sometimes being behind is due to procrastination or laziness -- but in the case of this semester, constant striving and hard work has left me with many assignments overdue on the "to-do" list. I'm grateful for professors who have been gracious and worked with me, trusting me to get the work done as I can. So this semester, I...
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