…there was light…

“Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while… and hope returned to him.
For the thought pierced him that in the end the shadow was only a small and passing thing:
there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach”

~J.R.R. Tolkien
Return of the King

These words of Tolkien are so powerful and especially touching at this moment in time because he reminds us that there is strength in the darkness. Hope is never lost, and there is still so much beauty in the world beyond what we can see right now. Better days will come, and the light will always shine in the end… Never forget that.

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Before the dawn

“Night is always darker before the dawn

and life is the same, the hard times will

pass, every thing will get better and

sun will shine brighter than ever.”

~Ernest Hemingway

During a time like this, it can be difficult to see the light in the struggle, and negativity seems to surround us in the aftermath of COVID-19… Fear continues to grow, and so many people are left desperate for relief as the impact becomes more widespread.

It is easy to feel consumed in this darkness, but it is our own decision how we are going to react to it. There is still so much to be thankful for, and we must keep these things close to heart despite the hardships. Things will not stay this way forever, and there is always sunshine behind the storm. Remember Ernest Hemingway’s words and know that hope is never lost. It may take some time to get back up, but when we do, we will be stronger than we ever were before!

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I just wanted to share this inspiring poem because it is so relevant to what we are all going through right now. I hope that this reflection was moving or gave you a new perspective as it did for me… Feel free to share your own poems or quotes in the comments section, and I hope that you have  a great rest of the week!

During this time…

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

~Maya Angelou

power

“No one is you and

that is your power”

—Dave Grohl—

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Photo: Richard Jean-Louis

in the end…

“in the end, she became

more than what she expected.

she became the journey,

and like all journeys,

she did not end, she just

simply changed directions

and kept going.”

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*quote: r.m. drake

*photo: richard jean-louis

-shadows-

“Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.”

Quote: Ruth E. Renkel

Decisions

“Decisions. We can think about things, turn them over in our minds a million times, play out possible scenarios, but really when it comes down to it, you have to go with your heart and move forward. Maybe things will go well. Maybe they’ll turn out poorly. Every decision brings with it some good, some bad, some lessons, and some luck. The only thing that’s for sure is that indecision steals many years from many people who wind up wishing they’d just had the courage to leap.”

~Doe Zantamata

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It can be scary to make a decision especially if it entails major changes in your life. Sometimes, you are put in a situation where you are given two very different options, and you are forced to choose which path to take. You are not sure which one is “right” and you don’t really know where you are meant to go, so you spend time contemplating the alternatives. Days go by, followed by weeks, and even months. Your gut feeling tells you which path to take, but you are too paralyzed to actually make things happen because you worry that you are wrong and fear the pit of regret. However, you cannot spend your entire life dwelling on the unknown because the truth is that you are never going to be 100% sure of every outcome. It is not possible. You are wasting so many opportunities if you let fear take complete control and if you allow other people to sway your direction in life. Do what you want to do, and go where you feel like you should be. Definitely consider the outcomes, but don’t spend your entire life sitting around waiting because you are afraid.

Make a decision. Make it happen.

Reflection from the week…

*Photo Credits: Claire H.

Breathe Easy…

Small problems have a tendency to invade our minds as we obsess, overthink, stress, and worry about them… Over time, it becomes hard to stop these negative thoughts, and the small problems ultimately end up feeling much bigger than they actually are. However, I have realized that most of the things that are stressful right now wont even matter in a few months, and our brain often over-analyzes situations that are actually quite simple. Everything will be sorted out the way it is suppose to with time, so don’t allow these thoughts and situations to create unnecessary chaos in your daily life. Instead, remind yourself that most of the stress that you are feeling right now is simply a cluster of small problems that the brain has manipulated to feel much bigger than they actually are.

“90% of what you are

stressing over today won’t

even be relevant in a year.

Breathe easy.”

~Wesley Snipes

What are your thoughts on this? Was this post helpful to ease some of the tension in your life? How do you deal with stressful situations? Happy Friday!

– September –

“I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin and crisp sun burnt leaves.”

~Unknown

September has arrived, and the first day of fall is right around the corner. I always look forward to the cool evenings, savory spices, and vibrant colors every year. The “small things” like falling leaves remind me to pause for a moment and breathe in the midst of all of the chaos. The fall semester is certainly stressful, but the autumn season really helps offset that tension because it is so beautiful.

I have created this month’s playlist for you guys, so I figured I would just release it now. I hope you enjoy, and happy September!

• Dark Green by Children of Indigo
• Rollercoaster by Bleachers
• It Goes On by Zac Brown & Sir Rosevelt
• Good Things Fall Apart by Illenium & Jon Bellion
• Next Year by Donovan Woods
• So Far Away by Staind
• That Old Truck by Thomas Rhett
• More I See by S. Carey
• Suit and Jacket by Judah & the Lion

What are you listening to this month? Do you enjoy autumn? What is your favorite thing about this time of year? Can you believe 2019 is almost over? Thanks for reading!

‘Perfect’

“He said to me, ‘you’re perfect,

and I want you to be mine.’

But I felt I wasn’t worthy,

and to be perfect, I need time.

 

I knew it would  be worth it,

and I could be better if I tried.

 

Then he got tired of waiting,

and I watched my chance go by.”

~Lang Leav

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*Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis