On Finding Bliss

If we sat down for a coffee date, I'd tell you this week I've been processing and processing and processing. I got back from a wonderful blogging conference, blissdom, this past Sunday. I'd share with you that even though I went into the conference with little expectations, I was blown away by the experience.

I reminded that you that flying is simply not my thing. I have unexplained fears about being 1000s of miles up in the sky. But I'd be sure to share how thankful I was that 6 of us attending the conference flew together so we all sat in two rows and laughed, giggled, and talked about blogs the whole trip. My sweet friend Kate and my sorority sister BA sat in my room and did an amazing job to keep me super distracted and entertained the whole trip.

I'd even confess to you all the silly things I worried about before I left for blissdom. It went something like this:

What if no one likes me?
What if I don't fit in?
What if I don't make the connections I hope to make?
What if everyone seems to be more important than me?
What if what I'm doing doesn't matter?

But you know what, blissdom surprised me. I felt like from the moment I walked into the door, I was overwhelmed with love. The Bliss Chicks had created a conference that was lavished in love. My mind was put at ease right away, and my heart was overcome with the out pour of love. I got to hug so many online friends in real life and make a lot of new connections. Did I mention, there was a lot of love.

I could go on for hours about what I learned in the sessions and how it gave me insight and changed my my heart about things. In fact, I'm still processing a lot of it! But first, I'd probably tell you my favorite parts of it. I was so encouraged by my three roomies: Hayley, Katy, and Kate. We had late night chats and giggles, and they offered up a lot of inspiration and love. I couldn't of asked for a better set of girls to room with! There were so many moments where I found myself sharing my hopes and dreams, and was overwhelmed with the encouragement I received back. There was a safe place for me to be 100% myself, and boy was I....pink cowgirl boots and all!

 

  

 

When I left Blissdom, I felt beyond inspired. There have been dreams that have been sitting in my heart for years now. Things I have wanted to do so badly, but I kept putting off, and off, and off. Blissdom gave me this hope, faith, and inspiration that anything is possible. I heard stories of people overcoming the odds, people switching jobs, and people chasing their dreams with all their heart. It reignited a flame in me, and made me come back and want to chase hard after my dreams. It gave me a community that has supported me to no end, and it gave me the courage and bravery to step out in faith.



xoxo,

Words of Encouragement

Six years ago, I sat down for coffee with my sweet friend, Heather. I remember looking at her wide eyed as she told me, "you have a gift. Your words are a gift to this world." I kind of laughed at her because I would never say I'm good with words. In fact, I often find myself stumbling to get out exactly what I want to say on a daily basis. But at barely 20 years of age, I knew that she was right. There is nothing more that I love that sitting down and hand writing cards with words of encouragement.

In 2009 and 2010, I made goals for myself instead of New Year's resolutions. Both years I made the goal to bless as many people as I possibly could with my gift, and I did just that. In 2009, I wrote a letter and made a baked good and delivered it them on Sundays to all those who had been a blessing to me. And In 2010, I wrote as many cards as I could, as often as I could. I learned to count my blessings through each letter I wrote, and gratitude flowed and ebbed out of my heart as a result.

However, I feel like I let go of my gift in 2011. I stopped writing cards and making baked goods, and I noticed that I felt less grateful over time. In essences, I felt like I was losing a part of myself and who God had made me to be. I stopped writing because I was in the amidst of changing jobs, of launching a business, and of shifting my life in an entirely different direction. However, in all that shift, I feel like I left a part of myself behind, and I made excuses as to why that was okay along the way. This past November, a friend suggested that I pray that my heart be open to opportunities where I could use my gifts to bless someone else. So in December, I decided that I wanted to pursue those opportunities with giving, and giving until it hurt. I blessed 25 strangers with cards, mittens, hugs, gift cards, clothes, and love. It served to remind me of my gift, and how I'm called to use it.

We are all hurting, we are all struggling, and fighting battles. No one ever promised that it would be an easy journey through life. Someone once told me, "you never know when your words will be exactly what they need to hear in order to get back up again." Therefore, I try to say as many kind things as often as I can, to as many people as I can. So I decided that this year I'm getting back on track. Yesterday, I had a change of pace, went to the library, and wrote 42 thank you notes. I wrote until I couldn't write anymore, and I walked away remembered how blessed I truly am.


xoxo,