Three Little Words

I Love You.

The first thought to this phrase is: "Aaaaaawwwhh!!" but I want to look at what this really means.

Definition of love: (From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
I would like to direct your attention down to number1a and 4a-

strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another

 I think this should give us a whole new perspective on the phrase "I love you" It isn't just for a man and a woman who are "in love" or even just for a mother and her child, in essence what you are saying is:

I have a strong affection for you based out of my unselfish and loyal concern for you.

In this case I think we should be much more careful about who we say "I love you" to, why we are saying it, and what we really mean. There is a big difference between, 'I love you" and "I kinda care about you"

What people don't realize though, is that most of the time it is the people around you who seem the most happy that need to be told, I love you, the most. Masks are so dangerous, and generally, they look like happy. So today, go tell someone "I love you," and mean it. Because you never know, you might just save their life.

 -Danielle

The First Snow

I love snow, absolutely love it.

A sheet of snow on the ground covers everything. You can't see what was there before, it is simply covered.

The problem is that no matter how much snow falls, no matter if that is all you can see, all it does is cover. All the rocks, sticks, mud, and nasties are still there. When the snow melts, you will see it again, because the snow does absolutely nothing but cover it up.

This got me to thinking today as I watched the snow fall. We all have problems and pasts we want to dissipate, but I feel that all to often instead of addressing the root problem, we let the snow fall. It falls, and falls, and falls, and falls, beautiful as ever. People look and see a beautiful blanket of "snow" and we, momentarily, feel gratified. Happy, even, that we are able to look so beautiful.

But the sun will rise, like it does every single day, and the clouds will part, like they always do, and when that happens, the snow melts. The snow melts into a nasty slushy mess, revealing what is underneath and that what was there was just a cover, a facade. No matter how long we wear our masks, no matter how much a part of us they become, the moment we are put under fire, everything will slide off, and the truth will be revealed.

I have to be honest, that is what I fear most. The masks I choose to wear, who will be there when they come off? What will those people see? I like myself better with my masks, but I have to ask myself, is it really worth it? I have come to the conclusion, that no, it is not worth it. Why wear a mask, and cover yourself in a beautiful blanket of snow, when you can instead pick up the rocks, mud, dirt, sticks, and other nasties from your life. Be beautiful underneath the snow.

I promise, if you want to, if you are willing ot put in the work, you can be more beautiful after the snow melts. You can be even more striking without the mask.

Throw off the mask, and smile in your new beauty.

~ Danielle

I admit, I am a writer... (Also known as, Patience is a Virtue and You Can Go On)

As much as I would like to deny it... I am a writer.

Whenever something (or someone) perplexes me, I write about it. Getting my mind on paper helps me to organize my thoughts, see them in order, and analyze what is to be done next. I have been doing a lot of writing lately, and lots of thinking. Seems the older I get, the more that begs me to contemplate. Sometimes it seems to me, contemplation is part of growing up, just a piece of the puzzle, a stage inthe cycle, however small it may be, still important.

A lot has happened in this last month, I turned 17 and my world was turned upside down. While a whole new world can be a good thing, most often I believe it confuses our minds. A new perspective is growing and beneficial every once in a while, but it begs the question, is this the right perspective? This is the single most important question to ask because it itself begs the single most important answer, should I keep this new perspective?

I have found that this new perspective has taken some getting used to, as do all perspective changes, which in turn causes it's own problems. Anything new can be a challenge, and while a challenge can be difficult, not only is it beneficial, but rewarding. Sometimes the hardest things in life are in fact the most rewarding. Maybe not at first will it seem rewarding, but I can guarantee that if it was the right thing to do, it will eventually be rewarding.

I have been learning a lot about patience, and by that I mean a LOT... I have never been good at waiting, and ironically, all this waiting around has been testing my patience. I have been told patience is a virtue, and if it doesn't kill me first I may in fact be better for it. In any case, in the words of an optimist, "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger." This really does beg the question, what kind of strength? Being strong can be being numb to a situation. Strong can be fighting back the tears till you are alone. Stron can mean being stone-hearted. But strong can be so many other things. Strong can be crying with one who is hurting, helping them wipe of their tears, standing up, and walking with them. Strength can be saying no when everything inside you screams yes. Strength can also be leaning on the people around you. For me, strength is getting up when nothing in you wants to, smiling when tears are begging to fall, walking away from the challenge, and picking up the peoe along the way, even though you can hardly keep going yourself. True strength, is when you hit rock bottom, your lowest low, when you have nothing left, crying out "God take me! I can't go on!" Then you lean on Him and He will carry you through.

I guess the entire point of this is, firstly, my apologies for going so long without a post, and secondly, persevere. Patience, they say, will reward you someday, and when you feel like you can't go on, be strong. Life will go on, you will go on, and if you really want to, you can get through whatever life decides to throw at you.

This is all to say, live in today, focus on the step in front of you, and then the one after
that, and eventually, after enough steps, you will be through the day.

Comment away, I do certainly love your comments.

With much love,

Danielle

Facebook Does Not Equal Evil

I sat there, looking at the statuses, looking at the names... I was wondering at what these people were far to willing to tell me. Half the names I don't recognize... More than that I don't remember one memory with. That is messed up. I feel like there is an ocean between me and my Facebook friends, an ocean that cannot be crossed by wall posts, and "pokes", and an insurmountable number of things you can now do that I am unaware of.

I stopped using Facebook a few months ago, more, I was just avoiding... But still, instead of leaving me joyful and fulfilled, it has been leaving me empty,sad, and lonely.

Perhaps this is why so many more people are using sites like match.com, and e-harmony. I promise I don't have 200+ friends, and frankly Facebook reminds me of that.

Instead of being radical and saying Facebook is evil and we should all stop using it, I instead say, Facebook is a great thing, but we should be using it more wisely. Instead of posting a stat about that party you went to last night, post something encouraging, like how God is working in your life. The worst thing about FB to me, is all the useless, unintelligible, and just plain odd statuses. They drive me insane.

So today, remember, Facebook is just like anything else in life, and should be used to encourage.Quick Sidenote is this applies to blogs too... Be careful what you post, and remember who it can affect.

Have a good rest of your day!

-Danielle