The Path Not Yet Traveld

Today, while on a hike with Justin we opted out starting a second trail and instead going into a creek. The water was freezing but for some reason so very refreshing. While walking through the water I enjoyed the freedom of no shoes and being one with nature. I  also began thinking deeply like I often do on hikes. 

I don't know what it is about nature but it causes me to create thousands of useless and tacky metaphors and similes. Today's was, "Sometimes life doesn't require us to take the path less traveled it requires us to take a path not traveled yet at all." Corny, I know, but there's truth to be found. 

Walking through the creek, isn't a path intended to be taken. It was fun, but not the intention of the trail. Well, life's like that for all of us. 

We see trails of people before us, perhaps our parents, and we feel we need to follow the path already set. We avoid the freezing cold watery paths because they're not where we think we're supposed to be. 

But what if it's exactly where we're supposed to be? What if in life, we're meant to take the trails that are more difficult and no one we know has gone before us in that same path?

I'm at a stage in my life now where I think that's exactly what we're supposed to do. 

The paths not traveled yet are scary but are the exact paths that lead us to the destination we want. Our parents are not us nor are we them. We need to feel brave enough to travel on our own and not stifled by our fears and doubts that we go and do what's comfortable. 

Comfort has never created anything great. When we reject creating our own paths we reject our inner desires and the growth we're supposed to achieve. Our own paths are rocky, wet and not yet molded. They're dark, long and seem never ending because no ones been there before and that's okay. 

I have no idea what my future holds, I have no idea where life will lead me but I do know that if I refuse to search I'll never find. 

Am I afraid of what lies ahead? Absolutely. Do I think I am going to mess up? Absolutely. Will I ever regret taking my own path and following what's right for me? Absolutely not.

Like I said, I have no idea what my future holds. But what I do know is that my life is my own as is my future. Therefore my path will never look the same as anyone else's nor will yours. Embrace the beauty of your unique path. Carve your name in some trees along the way. ;) Make your path one you're proud of and completely your own. 

I'm not sure the exact purpose of this blog. Maybe, it's to convince myself to over come my fears. Maybe it's to convince someone else struggling with starting their own path that it's okay. Or maybe, it's to let the other wanders out there know they're not alone. 

Your path may look scary at first, it may even require you to get muddy and even get your feet legs and butt soaking wet in icy cold water. It's not going to be easy and always pleasant but it will always be worth it. 

Get to walking and get to making the best life for you, for only you have the ability to figure out and find what's best and will work for your life. Well, while using God of course. He knows all, but you gotta trust Him and travel where He calls you to go. :) 

It's Not About What We Have, It's About Who We Have

Sometimes in life, we need reminded that the love we invest in others and the love we receive from others is much more valuable than anything we could ever buy.

I love this picture, I have it framed in my room. It reminds me that this world is big but none of it matters if you don't have anyone to enjoy it with. 

My Bible reading tonight brought me to the book of Ecclesiastes.  I do not think this was coincidental. 
Recently, I have acquired some rather expensive dental bills on top of what seems my never ending student loan debt, car debt and every other bill I have. 

I unfortunately don't make enough to cover everything and have any disposable income... But, I've reminded myself daily of Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. And, Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

I struggle horribly with anxiety. It is easily my biggest struggle in life. In fact, I cannot remember a time in my life where I didn't have frequent anxiety attacks. I have had/have them so frequently that I have trained myself to remain fully functioning during the minor attacks. So for me, I have to not only remind myself of those daily, but sometimes hourly including every hour of the night I awake from the anxiety that plagues my mind. 

Anyway, moving on... I tell you of the issue because I have found something else that has helped me with my anxiety and that's in the book of Ecclesiastes. If you're unfamiliar with the book, the first chapters discuss the issue of vanity and where you're putting forth your energy and work effots. The book states clearly that we come from dust and will turn into dust. Nothing in this life that we have gained will come with us when we die. 

Don't get me wrong, I do think we should all work hard. I do like nice things myself (and probably more than I should). But when we're working hard and dealing with all that stress and anxiety, is it really worth it? Is the new phone, shoes, car etc. worth the extra stress? Again, do not misunderstand me here, I do think you should work hard. But what I do not think, is that you should work so hard for things in this life that will only fade away like our lives eventually will.

Think about it, nothing we earn will ever come with us. But, there is a way we can "live" on... and that's through those we invest our lives in. People, people we mentor, people we give birth to, people we marry, people we're related to, people we love... that's how we live on. We live on in the people we love. We're all contagious to some extent. 

I have seen bits of me living in my siblings. My sisters favorite thing in the world is sunsets. Guess who else favorite thing in the world is sunsets? If you guessed me, you were right. She mimics me in so many ways and I love it and hate it at the same time. 

Tonight, I had to come to the realization that all of the wants I have will never end. No matter how hard I work if I am only working for stuff there will never be enough stuff to make me happy. It's my own self worth , relationship with my savior and sharing of love  by investing in others that will make me personally happy.

I do not say all of this to bash people that work hard to earn a lot of money. I do not judge nor see anything wrong with working hard and financial success. But I do say this as a reminder to those rich and poor that it is not what we have it is who we have. 

I do not have much but I do have many people. I decided many years ago that I was going to invest my life into little ones I love so dearly. When I stop to think about life, God has already promised me all of my needs will be taken care of. I will always have the food I need to survive. So why do I need to worry about having extras? I have abundant love from those around me daily. 

No matter how much money I earn to pay the bills off quickly and how stylish I look none of that matters in the end. None of it will come with me. But what does matter in the end is the ones I've poured my life into. I hope to be known for my love and compassion towards others. I would hope that I have been able to set an example many can follow and be proud of. 

If you're like me and bogged down by financial struggles remember this, your needs will always be taken care of. You may be hurting and struggling but money doesn't define you. No matter what state of life you're in you'll always have people to love and impact. You can always choose to make a difference in someone else's life. The success of helping others is more gratifying than the media portrays. 

Your wealth doesn't make you successful. You're still a winner when you choose to give and help others. Don't ever feel that you have to earn money to earn love. We're all lovable no matter what our bank says. 

And remember, money can always be re-earned but people cannot.