Lesson #76: Where have I been?

Well hello my friends. It's been awhile. And I'm terribly sorry for that. Life happened.

Where have I been?

Physically, I've been at school. Being involved with school things such as, well, the schoolwork (obviously), student council, choir, one voice, theater, ahhhhhhhhhh!! I barely have time to eat and sleep!

Mentally... Where have I been? I can honestly say I don't know. I've kept myself busy that I haven't just stopped. I haven't just stopped, and done nothing. I may have had a few breaks now and then, but when was the last time I literally just sat there and did nothing for longer than an hour? When was the last time I truly relaxed? When was the last time I opened my bible outside of school or church? When was the last time I actually cared to do so? I've let myself be so distracted that it didn't even occur to me that I hadn't sat down and read from God's word. I hadn't done something for somebody else. I hadn't prayed about it. I may have thought about it, but I was never proactive in actually doing it.

I became so consumed with life that I forgot to live.

Living is something that is debatable. To some, living is simply breathing and going through the motions every day. To others, living is doing what you enjoy. To me, living is everything. I'm a teenager. It's my last year of high school! I want to enjoy it, and be done with it! I decided I wasn't going to do sports so I could relax. Well, turns out I forgot how much time the other extra curriculars could take up. The past few weeks, actually the past couple months, I have been nonstop. Whether it be homecoming week or research paper, I was hardly ever home. I was either up at school or at the library. I knew what I needed to get done, and I got it done when I needed to. It's taken me a few months to realize that I seriously just need to stop. I'm not saying it's bad to be involved in various activities, but when your life is consumed with this and that, you might forget to actually live!

So live your life!

No, don't live it like it's your last day... Because if we all did that, all the banks would be broken into, everyone would go steal a sportscar, everyone would go skydiving, everyone would confess their undying love for someone, and then the next day we'd have to find something else to do all over again. No, I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is this:
Do what you enjoy, and don't let anybody tell you how. You are the captain of your ship, and only you can set the sails in the direction you want to go. Don't let others influence your decisions. Do what is best for you. Love everyone and don't judge too quickly! Love yourself, and think highly of yourself. Have a positive attitude in negative situations! Don't be overly positive, because that gets to the point when you become fake. Be yourself and be real. All the time. Not just when you're around certain people. Love everyone. If you love others, you will get love in return. Its not your place to judge others. If you disagree with somebody, don't tell them their opinion is wrong. Opinions aren't meant to be wrong or right. (Hence why they're called "opinions"). In disagreements, listen to the person. Listen to what they have to say, and understand their perspective. Respect them, and you will get respect in return. No judgin', just lovin'.

Life is hard, and it comes at you so fast that you don't even realize it until it's gone. I turn 18 on Tuesday. Wasn't I just starting to drive yesterday? I got accepted to ACU and I already have a roommate. Didn't I just start high school?

There's no easy button, but you are you. And don't let anything get in your way of living.