Tuesday Talk

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope your week is off to a great start. I thought I'd share a few things I'm loving right this moment. This post was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest.

I thought I'd choose a few things from this picture to talk about here today. I'll be wanting to know if you do any of these things that are listed under the image that talks about self care, so let me know your thoughts in the comments please! I am always curious to know if other people are like me.  

Learn to say yes and no. 

Do you have a problem with saying "yes" too much? I used to have an issue with that, but that's no longer the case. When I was younger and my kids were little, I felt the need to volunteer for all the things. That went on for many years, and though I do still spend time volunteering at church, it's only for what I want to or it's something I love. One example of this is that I sing on a praise team. I volunteer my time to rehearse, prepare, and learn the music and I help lead worship on a team once a month. It's one of my favorite things! I also volunteer on the tech team at church, and I run the lyrics screen for our worship leader and choir. I love that equally as much and do it at least once a month, though usually it's bi-monthly. I love doing these things and am happy to do them! I also help write Bible studies on a writing team at church, and though I'm not paid in money, I am taken care of in other ways, like when we eat out for dinner a couple of times a year, or when I don't have to pay for an event to attend that would usually cost. The church is going to start paying me to edit with the writing of this Bible study, so I'm excited about that.

I love those things and love doing them, so it's a joy. I am also asked to do certain things that I do not say yes to. I've gotten picky in my older age and I carefully choose what I spend my time doing. I do not volunteer in the nursery or preschool at our church, though it's always needed. I do many other things, but I can't do that along with the other things. I am not on committees and I do not volunteer to do things on week nights, especially if it takes me away from Todd on a night he's home. I used to feel guilty saying no to people, but I no longer feel that way. I do feel that as a member of the church (not my church, but THE church and as a Christian), we all need to be serving, not just attending. I feel very strongly about that and I know there is a role for everyone, regardless of age. When I say no to something, I do not offer an excuse or a reason. I figure as a grown woman, I do not owe anyone an explanation, though I'm always kind and gracious in my decline of something.

Start a journal. 

Do you journal? I have used journals for many, many years. I have loved to write for as far back as I can remember. When I say "write", I mean both kinds of that—handwriting and the writing I do for Bible studies and here on my blog. I love using pretty journals and go through them pretty often. My favorite one right now is one that my best friend's aunt gave me for my birthday. 

I use a journal for all kinds of things—sermon notes, book notes, to-do lists, blog ideas, verses I am working on learning/memorizing, etc. I am a bit of a pen snob too and have a favorite that I use, which is a Papermate Flair felt tip pen. It's more like a thin marker, but I love writing with those pens. 

List some good things about your life right now. 

There are so many great things in my life right now, so I'll try to keep it short. This reminds me of one thing I am always thanking and praising God for—that He is our protector. Noah had something happen at work this weekend that could have potentially been really bad, but nobody was injured too seriously. Noah works at one of those drive through car washes with the free vacuums, and a customer was backing his car up when the gas pedal got stuck. He reversed VERY quickly, and rammed into another car, and pinned someone against a wall. The person in the car he hit might have had a concussion and went to be checked out, and the person pinned against the wall had an injured foot. But it could have been so much worse! I'm just thankful that even though those people were hurt, that it wasn't any worse. Someone could have been killed! There are hundreds of people around that place on any given nice day, and it's a bit miraculous that everyone was able to get out of the way, for the most part.

On a lighter note, another great thing in my life right now is that I'm still feeling great and that I'm losing weight. I'm not dieting and don't even care about a number on a scale or a size in clothing. I am not doing it for anyone's approval or to look a certain way, either. I'm only wanting to feel great and to be healthy. If I'm not careful, my perspective on this will get off balance, and I'll start doing it for all the wrong reasons. I've gotten into a groove with meals that are tasty and healthy. Last night we had pasta with tomatoes and bacon, tonight we're having taco soup, and wedge salads are on the menu for Wednesday night. I can't remember what the plan is for Thursday, but it may be leftovers.

Music is a huge part of my life, so I would consider that category something great in life right now. Here are two songs I currently love. This first one is Elevation Worship with Maverick City Music singing Shall Not Want.

 

This next one is new by Toby Mac with Zack Williams, the song Cornerstone.

The title of the picture has to do with self care during the month of February, but these are things I do everyday. It feels good to do things that I enjoy and that are good for me. Do you do something similar to take care of yourself? I'd love to hear what it is to unwind, whether it's something off of this list or another habit or ritual you have. Let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all!