Summer of Self Love

Hello friends! I know it's been a while since my last blog post and that is because I wanted to take time and focus on me and my physical, mental, and spiritual growth. It's never wrong to take time for yourself and focusing on what you need. How can you be of service to someone when you can't even be of service to yourself? I just want to let you know how loved and special you are! God knew that this world needed you and here you are! I'm so thankful you are here! You are important and appreciated! Let's get right on into it!

This summer has been probably one of the best summers of my life. I came into this summer wanting growth in every area in my life. I started working out, playing tennis, writing in my journal, spending a lot of time with God. Was it all butterflies and rainbows absolutely not. I was doing long distance with my boyfriend, I started feeling burnt out, and felt I was failing at taking care of my mental health. I decided to do something about it. I told myself it is okay to rest. God calls us to rest in Him. Then there's that constant, "If you take a day off, you're going to get behind." Sometimes you just have to shut your mind off and listen to what your body is telling you, to rest. I spent a lot of time with my family and have done a lot of traveling and making so many memories. I would drive back and forth to Searcy twice a week to practice and would workout 4-5 days a week. I've had so much support and encouragement that it gives me so much motivation to keep going!

I've spent a lot of time just praying and building my relationship with God. Without Him, I wouldn't be where I am right now in life. I feel so blessed to be able to go back to Harding and play college tennis and to be a part of something again. I thank Him everyday for placing such amazing people in my life and for redeeming me of my past failures. Confessing is a beautiful thing. When you finally realize you can't do it all on your own and you mess up so bad that you can't hold it in anymore, confessing and wanting to change is where growth starts. I've found myself through Him and have seen the worst of myself and am finally looking at the beauty of myself.

There was a lot of things I was working through. I still had some past trauma I was still fighting through and it caught up with me. The pain would not go away until finally I had to lay it down. Until I finally stopped giving it attention. Until I finally stopped letting the thoughts that came in my head grow into something that caused me pain. I had to connect with my inner child and tell her that I was going to take care of her and love her. That is what I did. I finally trust myself again and am secure in my skin. That didn't come right away. It took patience and self acceptance understanding that I just needed to take one day at a time!

I just want you to know that no matter how far away you think you are from God, you are never too far gone. He is right there waiting for you. He wants you and will never leave you. He wants a relationship with you and through Him, you can understand how to nurture all your earthly relationships. You can begin nurturing a relationship with yourself. You are so important and so loved. Work for what you want. Pray and seek God's will for your life. Let Him lead and take control. Free fall into His arms. Let His love change you. If He can turn my whole world right side up, He can do that with yours too! Don't ever give up! You have hope and I am always here for you! I love you! <3