Thursday, January 5, 2017

back at it

Tumblr Polaroid mini calendars:  

Today's the first day of school after Christmas break, and I'm sitting in a coffee place close to campus in between classes. The hot chocolate they serve here has real chocolate in the bottom of the cup, and I have to stir mine every few minutes so it won't settle - it's the best cocoa I've ever had. They've already decorated for Valentine's day even though Christmas was last week, and there are red sparkly hearts dangling from the light fixtures on the ceiling. It's kind of nice, I think, to always be looking forward. What's next? What can we celebrate today?

I've never been the type of person who writes (or keeps!) her New Year's Resolutions, but I tackled it a little differently this year. Last week, even though it was still technically 2016, I opened my journal to a fresh page and thought, what do I actually want to change this year? What growth am I ready to commit to, what plans can I make that I will actually be motivated to keep? And it worked - 
I wrote a short list, only five or six goals for myself. Trust God more. Let go of things. Plank for a minute every morning (I've already missed as many days as I've made on this one, but that's okay.) But when people ask me what I'm aiming for this year, it comes down to two things. 

Smile more.
Look in the mirror less.

I want 2017 to be less about me, about how I look or what makes me feel good or what I want out of life - less time spent looking in the mirror, patting invisible out-of-place hairs back where they belong and crying over pimples I can't wish away, anyway. I want 2017 to be less concern over what people think of me, and whether or not I should put mascara on before going out tonight, and if people will notice the bags under my eyes that I'm looking at for the fifth time today. 
I want to stop judging my body and caring more about how I look than where I am and who I'm with. 

I want 2017 to be intentional - about smiling at people I know, and people I don't. I want to smile at the people I love, and the people who just drive me nuts. I want to smile when I feel amazing, smile on purpose, smile with my eyes and my face and my whole entire heart - I want to smile when I'm feeling sad, and admit to people that things aren't perfect, but there is still good in my life. I might be sad, but I know that there are still things to smile about, and I want to spend 2017 searching for those things. I want to pour God's love out to people every chance I get, and start looking for opportunities to love others even when it's hard. 

I'm excited about a new year... a fresh slate, with "no mistakes in it yet," as Anne of Green Gables once said. I'm excited for new adventures, and closer friendships, and mysteries I haven't even begun to unravel yet. I'm excited for another year with God, another year being loved by Him and trying to figure out how to love him back. I'm excited.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? What do you want to do more/less of? What are you excited for in 2017?

love, love, love,
Olivia 


16 comments:

  1. "Smile more.
    Look in the mirror less."

    Man oh man, I may just have to borrow this from you, Olivia. It's such a struggle! But gosh, so important. And so convicting, haha. I've been doing a bit better with this lately- here's to completely knocking it out this year!

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    1. PLEASE TAKE IT!!! It's amazing how much I think about it every day - every time I walk past a mirror I remind myself not to look just for the sake of looking... and to be intentionally positive about the face I see looking back at me. And one reminds me of the other... I'm excited for a year full of smiles, too! :)

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  2. Gah, that cocoa you described sounds like the best thing. Wish I had some!! And I feel you about Valentine's Day....the decorations are already all over my local grocery store, it's crazy! :D But holidays are the best!

    "Smile more. Look in the mirror less."

    YES AND YES. These are such small but powerful things! And when you do look in the mirror, smile :D haha I think losing myself in the Lord is my primary goal. I spent so much of 2016 eaten up with self...NOT THIS YEAR, SISTER. It's gonna be real. I can't wait to write and smile and just enjoy whatever comes my way! Happy New Year :)

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    1. The cocoa at this place is the BOMB.COM I tell you. Everyone should try it!

      "When you look in the mirror, smile." I love this - I'm adopting it. This is something I did not consider, (but it's so obvious! welp). I LOVE your goal... losing yourself in God... YIKES THAT SOUNDS HARD. I want to do it, too. :) I also spent a lot of 2016 focusing on memememe, and I'm so with you... I'm done with that. Here's to a new beginning for both of us!

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  3. I whole-heartedly approve of your drink choice. Nothing beats hot cocoa ;)

    I don't really make New Year's Resolutions...Once I made a list of goals for the coming year, but...I haven't made one since. Well, I did want to start getting a more structured morning routine, but that has not happened.

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    1. Right? And you haven't even tasted hot chocolate until you've been to this place. I'm spoiled forever, I think.

      I've never been a big resolution-maker, either, but this has stuck with me so far - I'm hopeful for the rest of the year!

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  4. My one big goal for New Year is to study hard and do well in college; I haven't put together a list of goals but I'll probably try to some time before the end of the week--my classes start back up again on Monday. Your goal sounds wonderful. I know it's belated, but I hope that you have a very happy new year!

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    1. Those are such solid goals! Must adopt for myself as well. Happy new year to you too, Alex! :)

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  5. OH MY GOODNESS, I can't express how refreshing this was to read. IT WAS LIKE A CUP OF COLD WATER. love this and you. thanks :')

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    1. Oliiiiiiiiivia this makes me so happy :) Happy belated new year! Thanks for being awesome <3

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  6. There was a post I saw that said something along the lines of "I applaud the girls that smile when they walk past you instead of glaring" Keep on smiling! This was a wonderful read, I am enjoying reading your thoughts.

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    1. Aiiii I want to read! This girl sounds like someone I need to get to know ;) It's not always as easy as it sounds... but I want to try, I really do. Thanks for your sweet comment!

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  7. HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THE SAME GOALS!?!?!?! You out these goals so elegantly, so authentically, that I was even more motivated to keep going towards these goals. We are not alone. We are in this together and GOD IS WITH US!!!

    Smile more.
    Look in the mirror less.

    I'm keeping this.

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    1. IDK HANNAH BUT I'M LOVING IT. We can motivate each other!! And God is holding us in his hands -- good reminder :)

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  8. This was a really awesome post, Olivia! Your resolutions are the best. AND THE WAY YOU EXPRESSED THEM OH MY THAT IS PERFECT. You're such an amazing person <3

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    1. Autumn, thank you! I'M SO HAPPY THIS IS GOING SO WELL SO FAR. AND YOUR COMMENT IS BLOWING MY HEART OPEN WOW

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