Time for my annual recap post of a few things I've learned this year and the places I learned them from. More precisely, 18 of them, since we are rounding out 2018.
Always plan well for a trip, but expect the best moments to be the unplanned ones.
— my trip to New York in November
(also, missing a flight isn't the worst thing in the world, and sometimes the cookies are worth it)
The only way to belong anywhere is to be fully yourself.
Trying to "fit in" will never lead to true belonging.
— Braving the Wildnerness by Brené Brown
Major change, while unsettling, can be incredibly freeing and refreshing if you give it a fair chance.
— moving out of the home I lived in for nine years
Trusting God is infinitely wiser than any five-year plan ever could be.
— a missions conference I attended in February
Spending time with Jesus just for the sake of being near Him is more meaningful and beautiful than any moment we could spend trying to gain revelations or answers to prayers.
— this book
You learn so much about yourself when you try to write a novel, and so will your reader when they read it. For that reason alone, it's worth telling.
— the enduring process of writing an actual novel
Life can be imperfect and exhausting and beautiful just as it is, and all at the same time.
— finding contentment in the present
Maturity isn't really about success and money and proper "adulting."
It's about who you are as a a person, and about the way you treat (and speak about) those around you.
— people who seem to "have it all together," except for the way they treat others
Social media is so often a chorus of negative opinions, but it's easily drowned out when you realize how little hateful opinions matter in the grand scheme of things.
It's always better to be idealistic and seemingly naïve in the pursuit of your dreams
than cynical and skeptical and accomplish nothing but criticism.
— the Mr. Rogers documentary
Being kind to others requires intentionality, not just good intentions.
— a sermon by one of my church's pastors
The less you care what people think about you, the less you'll care if they misunderstand you.
History is full of so much heaviness and darkness, but it never was and never will be a match for God's plan and purpose.
— my Perspectives class
It's not enough to know that God sees all the issues of your heart. An honest relationship with Him requires bringing them up intentionally.
— shared how I learned this in this blog post
A little bit of escapism, when done subtly, can be a smart and powerful thing to add to a novel.
— The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and other stories
Every material possession we own will add weight to our lives in some way, good or bad, so it's important to consider which are worth it.
— the excessiveness of the Christmas season, and this book
There's a thin line between establishing healthy boundaries and not going the extra mile for someone when you can. Most of the time, you won't regret giving a little more than you thought you could, as long as you do so with wisdom.
— learning what "self care" really means
Part of getting older is learning to live at peace with your mistakes. Not that you don't learn from them, not that you don't own up to them. But that you don't let them define you, and don't let anyone else define you by them.
— making mistakes
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