You Don't Have to Try

As women, we have a lot of pressure put on us to look a certain way, to have our make up and hair done when others see us, and to be 'put together.'  What we don't realize is that we can love ourselves no matter how we look.  You don't have to try to look a certain way to be lovable by others or by yourself.  It is important to be able to look in the mirror without trying to look a certain way, and love ourselves.  Do you really love yourself?  No matter how you look?  This beautiful song can help give us some perspective :)

Colbie Caillat - TRY

Our View Point - An Embroidery Lesson by Corrie Ten Boom

During Corrie’s presentations to audiences, she would often hold the back side of a piece of embroidery (pictured), with hundreds of tangled threads hanging from it. Many wondered if she was holding up the wrong side by mistake. As she held up the messy side of the embroidery she would ask... 

“Does God always grant us what we ask for in prayer? Not always. Sometimes He says, ‘No.’ That is because God knows what we do not know. God knows all. Look at this piece of embroidery. The wrong side is chaos. But look at the beautiful picture on the other side – the right side.”

Triumphantly she flipped the cloth over and revealed an elaborately embroidered crown – symbolizing our crown of eternal life. The crown was intricately stitched, and had threads of many colors, including gold, silver and pearls.

“We see now the wrong side, God sees His side all the time. One day we shall see the embroidery from His side, and thank Him for every answered and unanswered prayer.”

CONSENT MATTERS

Understanding our ability to give consent for physical or sexual contact is an important skill that all children and teens can acquire through education and example.  This video teaches four steps to teaching youth how to assert their consent, which can protect them from potential abuse.

                                       4 Way Parents Teach Kids that Consent Doesn't Matter
                                                              by Parenting Gently

Life is Best Lived

Do you want to be more motivated?  Sometimes we think we want something, but don't have the motivation to do what is required to obtain it.  This video should help.  My cat watched this video and turned into a lion!

                                                  Life is Best Lived Motivational Video

Instructions for a Bad Day

Are you having a bad day?  Here are 46 powerful things you should really hear.  Great reminders :)

Instructions for a Bad Day, by Jon Goodgion

This Is Water

Great advice about how to create meaning in a life full of routine:  choice!

Be Careful What You Wish For

It is common for us to look at our own set of problems and feel that life is unfair as we compare our difficult circumstances to the apparent ease that others experience.  Here's a video to help us think about this issue a little deeper.  I heard once that if we all threw our problems into a pile and then had to take others out of the pile, after seeing all the problems that everyone has, we would each quietly take back our own problems and feel a little more grateful about our own circumstances.  Our difficulties are tailor-made for us to provide opportunities for growth and development.  This is a reminder to be a little more grateful for our circumstances:

MY SHOES, by Nina Raoofi