Your Excuses Are Unexcused Now

We make too many excuses.

Maybe not everyone, but a lot of us do.

Always trying to justify our shortcomings by using the age old phrase: This is just me. This is how I am.

But after awhile, don't YOU get tired of hearing those monotonous thoughts running through your head? Don't YOU ever get to the point where you desire change, where you really want to move forward...past all the excuses holding you back?

This post was actually inspired from getting yelled at by my parents...lol

It's kind of sad, but if you've been following the blog since the early days, I wrote a post on my cleaning habits. Still struggling with that today (shows I haven't changed as much as I'd like). But anyway, I wrote on that previous blog that I hate folding clothes! I don't mind washing and drying everything, but afterwards I just don't wanna mess with them. So, I have a habit of keeping the pile of clean clothes on my bed, and I sometimes just sort through what I want to wear from there...unless it's hanging in my closet.

Then, sometimes (unintentionally) I leave my shoes and miscellaneous papers lying on the floor. I get caught in the daily rush and routine of life that my room and bathroom can just look so horrible, looking crazy that only one person is living in this certain section of the house.

So, of course I constantly get yelled at as to why I can't keep my room clean...why I can't pick up after myself. In the most recent occurrence of scoldings, I attempted to explain to my mom that I just hate folding clothes...that it's just hard for me. That it's just a bad habit. I try to keep my room clean, but once I wash clothes and/or I'm rushing in the mornings getting ready for work or school.....it's over. 

Usually, I'm threatened with "eviction" notices by my parents, claiming that if I don't get my act together, I'll have to find somewhere else to live. Those are always empty words, though...lol...Maybe if they did that for real, I'd be forced to grow up. 

But this time, my mom said some things that stuck out to me. Something along the lines of...stop making excuses of why you act a certain way, learn to change your habits, etc. 

I knew she was right. This had been going on far too long.

And then randomly...when I was getting ready to fall asleep last night, I kept kicking something on the bed. I was annoyed that there was so much stuff on the bed, that it was now on my main sleeping side. Then, a thought popped in my head. This won't work when you're married, because where's he going to sleep? It kinda made me laugh, but it was true. I must tackle these seemingly simple tasks now, because that definitely wouldn't fly in marriage. But....that's another blog, another day.

Maybe you have some things in your life that you're letting yourself slide by with.  Your worst enemy lies within yourself, since you are in control of all your choices (good or bad). Don't hold back from doing what needs to be done today. Going around in constant circles around the same issues isn't doing anyone any good. Someone is waiting on you to GET IT TOGETHER! You have something, small or big, to offer the world. Don't hold your own self back from a better life!

If it's not one thing...

You ever heard that quote, "If it's not one thing it's another?" I've heard that quote alot in the last couple of days. My uncle had an emergency unexpected brain surgery yesterday morning. I was at my sisters house and we got the call saying he was taken to the hospital. Once we got there and found out the severity of the situation I must admit, I was not in a good place. I remember thinking, "I don't understand. Not again God."

I've only known one other person that survived his condition. We've lost about three relatives/family friends to the same thing and I just didn't want to think about the possibilities of losing him. And the fact that he's in his 30s just made it even more unexpected. I'm grateful to say that his surgery went well. But a lot of things were going through my head.

Life is not a guarantee. I know that and have always known that but it can be easy at times to forget. It's a blessing to have such a large family. But along with that comes the possibility of taking one another for granted. During the holidays everyone tries to go the extra mile to get together but even if that doesn't happen, "There's always Christmas or next year." Or because my family is so large, everyone usually can't get together at one place so holidays usually consist of a few different places we all can choose from. When really, who knows what will happen next Christmas. Why not NOW?

As I was driving home last night, it finally hit me what really happened and how that short time frame could have changed each of our lives for good. But I am so glad that his surgery went well and we don't have to say "what if" or "I wish I would have." God has graced each of us with more TIME with each other.

Alot of times we push things off or procrastinate. But that's a scheme of the enemy who tries to make us believe that we have an endless amount of time. But it only takes a second for our lives to change. When I finally saw him after his surgery and he was awake and knew who I was (which I wasn't expecting after having brain surgery), I wanted to climb in his lap and just hold on to him. Of course I probably would've been carried out lol But I was so grateful that God graced him with more time and that brain surgery is not too complicated for our Heavenly Father.

Thanking God for His healing Power. If' its not one thing it's another. But we have the ability to speak to that giant and it will come down. When we are in situations that are out of our control, it's a reminder that we serve the One who has it ALL in control. I ask that you keep my uncle in your prayers. That he will have a healthy and smooth recovery and that all is well for his wife and children.

Cherish those you love and make sure they know it.

You can do better!

So I'm going to talk about something that can be a HUGE factor in holding you back from maturity and the capability of handling necessary responsibilities. It's one word and can be one of the most difficult things to learn.

Discipline is that one thing that makes you get up on time. When you take outfits out of your closet to try and figure out what you're going to wear, discipline makes you put back the things you don't need. When you have somewhere to be by 7 pm and it's 30 minutes away, discipline causes you to leave at 6:20 to give you extra time just in case you are delayed. Discipline keeps you from eating those sweets you want so badly and pushes you to the gym when you just want to chill. So basically,

DISCIPLINE SUCKS!!!! :-/ lol

However, discipline is very necessary. Being on time can be the difference between having a job and being fired. Going to the gym and eating well can be the difference between being healthy and being sick from disease. A lack of discipline pretty much causes a bunch of chaos. Even when it comes to paying bills, if you procrastinate and decide you just don't feel like paying it before the due date, it can be the difference between lights and no lights, excellent credit score and horrible credit score.

"Be the person you want to find. Don't be nickel looking for a dime."

Ladies, let's say you marry a man that doesn't "feel" like getting up for work in the morning. He doesn't feel like meeting you at 7 when you agreed to meet at 7. Let's say he lets himself "Go" and gains 100 lbs and doesn't feel like going to the gym or stepping away from the table. That's not a good thing right? But what that is is a lack of discipline. And a person without that quality, having the ability to do things they don't want to do when they don't want to do it, is easily held back from gaining the responsibility of receiving more.

If you can't handle an apartment, how will you ever handle a home? If you can't keep yourself out of the department store when you're on a budget, how will you ever handle more income? If you can't put your own things back, how will you ever clean up after your family? Just some things to think about. I'm working on discipline myself. But one thing I know is that discipline can be the difference between staying where you are and receiving all that God has for you. But the good thing about it is that you can learn. It takes time and patience but it's very possible.

I'll make a suggestion for this week. Make a list of all the things you need to get done, cleaning, homework, grocery shopping, bills, meetings, exercise, and include the times you need to have it done. Work hard to do it according to your schedule and try HARD to be on time with the assignments.Your success or lack thereof will show you how much more work you need to do to be disciplined.

Responsible adults realize that in order to get the results they want, they have to be DISCIPLINED! Many of us want to be married and have a family one day but how selfish is it to add people to your life and you only do what you WANT to do and not what needs to be done. No bueno. Don't add people to your chaos! You can't handle greater responsibilities until you handle your current situation FIRST. Get things done on time, be well organized, stay true to your word, stop procrastinating, read the Bible and pray DAILY (no more excuses) and do it all with a SMILE! :-)

So I hope you give that assignment a try and I hope it's a success. But not just for a week but a lifetime. Maturity and growth REQUIRES discipline.

"No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined."Harry Emerson Fosdick D.D

Day 4: My Thankful

I'm thankful that all the assignments due before midnight tonight (that I procrastinated on) were completed!

I'm thankful for a GREAT family dinner (prepared by yours truly), minus my brother who is away at college. We had great conversation and good laughs. And me and my dad cleaned the kitchen together! Awww, that almost never happens.

I'm thankful for dreams, visions, and goals.

I'm thankful for today's message at church on marriage. I'm not married yet, but I plan to be. So, all wisdom is beneficial at this point.

I'm thankful for all the people I had conversations with today at church. I remember my painfully shy days, and I'm always so grateful when I realize that I've come so much farther than I'd ever thought I would. Thank you God!


SN: I forgot to take pictures of the finished product of the Shrimp Alfredo. Go figure. lol...but Chelsea and I made this earlier in the year, and it's on one of the earlier postings. It was delicious though! =)

Shrimp Alfredo Prep