Walk In The Rain With Me: October 2014

...Looking Forward

Friday, October 31, 2014

This is Day 31 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

Here it is. The very last day.

For the past month, I've been participating in something called the 31 Days challenge. The goal was to choose a topic and write one blog post about it every single day of October. I chose to do 31 Days of INSPIRE!, and in spite of the many obstacles (including an illness, trying to memorize lines to be the main character in a play, and dislocating a finger!), I am proud to say that

I did it!

That's right! I managed to generate 31 unique blog posts about inspiration, all on their appropriate day. It's quite a feat for someone who has (historically) only blogged when she felt like it.

Honestly, I'm still in shock over the whole thing. I keep going back through my posts and counting them to make sure I didn't miss a day! I know I haven't but I really just have to see it to believe it.

Now, in my post yesterday, I was looking back at what I learned from this month. Today, I want to look forward at where I am going from here...

I've been trying for a while now to decide exactly what I want the future of Walk In the Rain With Me to look like. Without a doubt, I want to continue writing on here. It's something I love doing, and this challenge has only rekindled the flame!

But it also encouraged me to think more about why I'm doing this, and what am I going to do in in the months or years to come.

The first question- why am I doing this?- wasn't as easy to answer as I certainly thought it would be.

On the surface, it seems fairly obvious. Because I like to write.

But is that it? Is that the only reason???

And when I look closer, I realize that I'm not just doing this for myself. While it may have started as just a way for me to express myself and get outside my comfort zone, it has become so much more than that.

This series has been about inspiring people, and that's what I want my blog entire to do. I keep writing here, I keep getting over the fear of putting myself out there, and I keep hitting that publish button with the hope that someone out there will be inspired and encouraged because of me. Because of this humble little blog.

I can't say it wouldn't be really awesome if my blog went viral. I can't say I don't hope to have hundreds or thousands of subscribers one day. Because of course I would love for tons of people to read what I've written!

But if it can inspire just one person, than that's enough...

___

And now... The next question- what am I going to do?- actually took some thinking as well.

As I mentioned earlier, I typically write only when I feel like it. And as any writer knows, this fluctuates a lot. One week, I have multiple topics bouncing around in my head just waiting to get out! The next, I can't think of something to write to save my life.

There's no real consistency to it.

But this month, I've had a lot of practice meeting deadlines and writing even when I don't feel inspired. I've come to realize that it is possible and even beneficial to push myself. To set deadlines.

I never really considered myself to be someone who thrives under pressure, but I have seen that sometimes having a deadline- a limitation, if you will- increases not only productivity but creativity.

Unfortunately, I can tell you right now that there's absolutely no way I can keep doing a blog post a day! It's just not going to happen. I have school work that needs to be done, rooms that need to stay cleaned, projects I want to work on... And pretty much all of that has been somewhat neglected this month.

So I've decided that, going forward,

I am going to write a blog post every Monday.

In the past, I wrote a blog post about the fact that Mondays are so underrated. People are always hating on Mondays, and I admit that it kind of frustrates me.

Since I am always looking for ways to inspire and encourage people, what better day to do it than on the one people hate so much?! I would love to be the bright spot in your otherwise dreary day!

There's another aspect to this question that I'm also exploring, but I'm not quite ready to make that announcement, yet. So just know that there are big changes happening here at Walk In the Rain With Me, and keep your eyes open for more information!

...

My question today is what kind of stuff would you like to see more of in the future? Be sure to leave your suggestions in the comment section below or over at my Facebook page!

Also, I just want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this series, both my old readers, and my new ones! I also want to give a special shout-out to all of the other 31 Day bloggers I was able to connect with. You guys were amazing!

If you just found my blog, I'd love to encourage you to say! You can subscribe to my email list over there --> so you never miss a post. Check out my About Me page to get to know me a little better. That also includes a list of a few of my most popular posts to get you started!

31 Days

Looking Back...

Thursday, October 30, 2014

This is Day 30 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

Tomorrow is my very last post in the 31 Days of INSPIRE! series, and now that I'm faced with the final days of the challenge, I've really started looking back to appreciate how this month has been for me.

When I first started this project, I had no idea just how much work it was going to be. I didn't know I was going to get really sick in the middle of it and struggle finding something to write because I felt so badly. I had no idea I would resort so much to simply sharing a picture or song because I had nothing to say...

But I also didn't know I would meet up with so many amazing people who were also participating in the 31 Days challenge. I didn't know I was going to have the opportunity to connect with different blogs throughout the month. I didn't know I would become so much quicker at writing, editing, and creating graphics for a post. And I had no idea I would be ever able to generate a post every day for the month of October!

I have learned a lot about myself and about others during this month of blogging every day.

I've learned that there are tons of supportive bloggers out there if you take the time to find them. I've learned that it's alright to not always have something huge to contribute- even little things can be meaningful. I've learned that it's possible to make two custom graphics in under five minutes. I've learned that there are people out there who actually read my blog.

And I've learned that

I am capable of so much more than I give myself credit for.

You see, I'm one of those people who often sells themselves short. I see myself as such a small, insignificant being in the big picture of creation...

But that's not true.

I may be small, but I'm not insignificant. I may be just one person, but I can make a difference in people's lives. I may be only a "hormonal teenager," but I can still inspire people. I may be little, but in the immortal words of a certain asparagus-

"Little guys can do big things, too."

Today, I want to remind that no matter how small and insignificant you may feel, you are capable of so much more than you think. Because no matter how little we are, we serve the One who spoke the world into being. And with Him, all things are possible.

...

Today my question for you is have you ever been surprised by something you didn't think you could do, but did? What would you tell someone who was feeling insignificant? I always love to hear what you have to say, so be sure to comment!

31 Days

Just Breathe

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

31 Days

The Teeter-Totter

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

This is Day 28 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

While I was doing my school work yesterday, I came across a quote that really got me thinking.

"Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other. [...] For every thing that is given something is taken." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have seen this to be true on more than one occasion. Society attempts to fix a problem, and in doing so, only creates a new one.

An area I've noticed it in the most is when we're talking about beauty.

You see, society has this warped idea of what it means to be beautiful. When we see beauty portrayed in movies and magazines, it's always skinny and flawless. On every TV screen and billboard, there are products aimed at turning you into that perfect person.

Recently, a lot of us have started to realize how messed up this idea of perfection is. So we decided to fight back.

But the way we've tried to do it isn't right.

There are so many blog posts and Facebook statuses dedicated to attempting to correct the beauty myth, but almost all are at the expense of someone else.

"Skinny isn't beautiful!" "Real women have curves!" "It doesn't matter if you're pretty." "Skinny girls are for wimps!" "Skinny isn't sexy- healthy is!"

This sounds all well and good- we're trying to tell people that they don't have to starve themselves to be beautiful. But do you see what we're doing here? The problem still remains, we're simply coming at it from a different angle.

It's like a seesaw or a teeter-totter: bouncing up and down but never going anywhere.

In spite of our "good intentions", we're still perpetrating the myth that you are defined by what people see on the outside. That your beauty and worth are somehow found in what you look like...

But you are not your face. If you were to wake up one day and somehow not have your face, you would still be you. You are not your body. If you someday lost the ability to walk or talk, you would still be you.

Because you are more than what people see on the outside. There is so much more to you than any perceived beauty, regardless of what society sees you as.

If you're not considered skinny or beautiful, you are more than that.

If you wear a size 0 and are seen as just another pretty face, you are more than that.

Because this isn't about what you look like. This isn't about society's definition of beautiful. This is about the fact that everyone deserves to be treated with respect regardless of what they look like.

Just because they're not "good looking" doesn't mean they aren't beautiful. Just because they've got "the perfect body" doesn't give you the right to treat them like property.

As one of those girls who was given a naturally skinny body, I can tell you that it stings to hear people say "Skinny isn't beautiful." It's demeaning to see that "real women have curves." After all, what does that make me?

But I am not my body. I am not an object created solely for the purpose of satisfying some guy's desires.

I am a person. And there is so much more to me...

Today, I challenge you to look past appearances and really try to see who people really are. You might just find yourself surprised...

...

My question today is have you ever found yourself judged because of your appearance? Have you ever made assumptions about someone else only to find that you were wrong? Share your story in the comment section below or over at my Facebook page!

31 Days

Smile

Monday, October 27, 2014

31 Days

On Scaling Down

Sunday, October 26, 2014

This is Day 26 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

This whole month of 31 Days of INSPIRE!, I've been talking a lot about the various aspects of inspiration, including people and quotes that inspire me.

But I haven't talked as much about what I've actually been inspired to do. So today I want to take a bit of time to tell you a little about a new project of mine and my reasons behind it.

I don't want any beating around the bush with this, so let me just cut right to the case- I've decided to start getting rid of everything I don't need or really want. That's right: everything.

This means collections I don't actually enjoy, clothes I don't wear, stuff I no longer use... I might even go so far as to get rid of books I don't really like. (This will be difficult for a book-lover like me.)

Some people call it minimalism.

I guess I just call it scaling down.

There are quite a lot of blogs about minimalism and people's journey towards letting go of stuff, and I even found some 31 Days series about it. (Most notably this one.)

As I read these stories, I started to realize that I have more stuff than I really need. Things I never use anymore and don't really care to keep but still have because they've been given to me or because I "just know" I'll need it some day.

But I'm not going to do it anymore. I'm not going to continue holding onto things that I no longer need or want. After all, it makes no sense to keep stuff I don't care about.

So starting this past week, I've been going through all of my various drawers. I look at every item I take out, and ask a few serious questions. Have I used it in the past two or three months? Is there any reason why I need it? Do I really need it?

If the answer is no, than out it goes!

And it's interesting how good it feels to get rid of things I don't need or want. Looking at a shelf that's been emptied of stuff I never use anymore, I just feel so accomplished.

I've already made such great progress on my room! Several shelves I thought I needed are quickly becoming superfluous. I have a fairly large box of stuff that needs to go. My dresser top is nice and tidy. The closet and drawers only have clothes I actually wear.

But it can't stop here.

Just choosing to clean my room isn't enough. This isn't a one-time project, anymore. It's a lifestyle change.

I'm not going to continue amassing things that I don't need. This obviously means that buying something I'm not going to use is absolutely off the table! But it's not just that. It also means that if people give me something I really don't need (hand-me-down clothes, for instance), I'm not going to hang onto it simply because it was a "gift."

I mean, it doesn't make sense! Gifts aren't supposed to entrap you. They're not meant to tie you down.

But they will if you let them.

So to anyone who gives me stuff, I'm just going to say it up front- I may or may not end up keeping it. It's nothing personal. I (probably) don't have anything against you. It's just that I can't keep on trying to please people.

I have to be me. And this is who I am.

If you'd like to read a little more about minimalism and scaling down, here are a few resources for you to check out!

- Be More With Less

- Becoming Minimalist

- Tiny Living: Declutter

- The Minimalists: 21 Day Journey Into Minimalism

- Everyday Modern: Go Minimalist

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My question for you is what do you think about the idea of minimalism? Had you heard about it before or ever considered it? I always enjoy hearing what you have to say, so be sure to leave your response in the comment section below or over at my Facebook page!

31 Days

Hold On

Saturday, October 25, 2014

31 Days

Made for Another World

Friday, October 24, 2014

This is Day 24 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

As humans, I think there are certain fundamental questions that we all ask at one time or another.

Sometime around the teenage years, we start to wake up to the fact that we can think for ourselves. As children, we don't usually question the basic facts of life- they just are. We hear what our parents tell us about God, church, and life in general, and whether we realize it or not, we usually just accept it.

But eventually we start to think things through on our own. We are no longer satisfied with just how things are. Instead, we need to know if we actually believe them.

And one of the questions we start to ask ourselves is why are we here? Does it really matter?

What is it all for?

We have this innate desire for purpose in our lives. We want it to mean something.

There are people who, after asking themselves these questions, come to the conclusion that there is no meaning. There is no real purpose for life- we're simply here.

But it seems to me that even these people come up with some explanation of what their life is for. Perhaps they decide it's simply to "do no harm." Or maybe they decide life is just one big party so they need to have as good a time as they can for as long as they can.

But no matter who they are or what they claim to believe, it seems everyone has some concept of purpose.

I came to the conclusion that the meaning of life is found only through God. That this intense desire for purpose echoes back to the One who created us in His image.

This song, Meant to Live, speaks about our desire for something more.

We want more than this world's got to offer

We want more than this world's got to offer

We want more than the wars of our fathers

And everything inside screams for second life

This world can never be enough because this world isn't all there is. There is so much more than what we see in front of us.

...

My question today is have you ever pondered the meaning of life? What conclusion did you come to? Do you think that everyone, deep down, believes in some kind of purpose to their existence? I absolutely love seeing your responses, so feel free to leave those in the comment section below or over on my Facebook page!

31 Days

Better Things Ahead

Thursday, October 23, 2014

31 Days

Episode 13

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

31 Days

Your Legacy

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

31 Days

The Problem of Slavery

Monday, October 20, 2014

This is Day 20 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that we all have the ability to bring about change. We can be the ones to make a difference in the world.

But how? And where?

That's why I'm writing this post. So I can show you how and where you can make a difference. To let you know what you can do.

To spread the need for change.

We are living in a broken world, and all around us there are problems. And because there are problems, there are causes. Causes like "Stop Global Warming" and "Save the Bangladesh Tiger" and "End World Hunger" and so on.

And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with saving the Bangladesh Tiger. In fact, I think it's a valiant thing to do. I love tigers!

But today I want to share a problem that has always been very close to my heart, and a few organizations that are looking for solutions to that problem.

"What is the problem," you ask?

Slavery.

When we think of slavery, we tend to think of something that happened a long time ago. We think about the Civil War, and about the fight to make slavery illegal. We think about sugar plantations and cotton mills.

And we probably also assume that slavery is dead, or something that only happens in developing countries. After all, according to the 13th Amendment, slavery should be no more. Not here.

But slavery is very much alive. In fact, there are approximately 60,000 victims today enslaved in the US alone, and 20-30 million worldwide.

This illegal ownership of the human life generates traffickers over $100 billion a year, making it one of the largest illegal industries in the world, second only to drug-dealing.

But what is slavery exactly?

According to Wikipedia, "slavery is a system under which people are treated as property." It means working without compensation, under inhumane conditions. And it means you don't have the freedom to walk away.

Because you are not your own anymore. You belong to someone.

And this is definitely a problem.

But what is being done about it? What can I do to help? How can I get involved?

Today I'd like to highlight three organizations who are working to end slavery, and show you a few ways you can get involved with each.

1. Not for Sale

Not for Sale was the very first anti-trafficking organization I ever heard about, and it was really what opened my eyes to the fact that slavery still exists.

Who They Are: Based out of San Francisco, their mission is to "build a world where no one is for sale," and they are doing this all around the world.

What They're Doing: Not for Sale has projects in San Francisco, The Netherlands, Thailand, Romania, and Peru. Their programs provide victims temporary housing or financial aid, and help make connections to much-needed jobs.

How You Can Help: Donating to Not for Sale enables them to continue their work to free slaves, and you can do that over here.

2. The A21 Campaign

I honestly don't remember how I found out about A21, but it has since become one of my favorite anti-slavery organizations, and the one I am trying to become most involved in.

Who They Are: A21's mission is to "abolish injustice in the 21st century." They are working to free women and girls from the horror of forced prostitution and other forms of slavery.

What They're Doing: A21 has many different programs going to stop slavery- each one playing a vital role. They work alongside the FBI to identify and free women caught in human-trafficking. They provide housing, education, and training to survivors through their "restoration programs." They work with lawyers to help prosecute traffickers and provide legal council to the victims, and they offer various resources to educate the public on what needs to be done.

How You Can Help: A21 provides several different ways you can get involved. You can donate or host a fundraiser to support The A21 Campaign. If you want to make a more personal impact, write a letter to one of the girls who has been rescued. Shop for A21 merchandise to spread awareness. And for more information on how you can help free slaves, check out this list of 21 Ways to Help.

3. Made In a Free World

After I first realized slavery was an issue that still existed, I knew I needed to do something about it. In researching modern-day slavery and how I could help, I came across an organization called Made In a Free World.

Who They Are: Made In a Free World is "a network of individuals, groups, and businesses working together to disrupt slavery and make freedom go viral." Their focus is on freeing children in the forced labor industry, and calling out the companies who use products made by slaves.

What They're Doing: Made In a Free World has "field projects" in both India and Ghana. Their Ghana project focuses on freeing the children who are being forced to work as fishers on Lake Volta. The children are identified, rescued, and brought to the shelter for medical attention and education. Their India project is planting Safe Villages where children are educated instead of working in dangerous and illegal mines.

How You Can Help: By donating to one of the Made In a Free World projects, you are helping put a stop to slavery. You can also visit their store to buy MIAFW merchandise. Their partner website Slaveryfootprint.org allows you to calculate the number of slaves who worked for you, and gives you the opportunity to speak out about this injustice by sending notes to companies asking them to commit to ending slavery.

Now you know. The question now is...

What are you going to do about it?

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My question today is what would you want to say to someone trapped in slavery? What would you say to someone who did know slavery still exists? Leave a comment below or over on my Facebook page! Please share this so everyone can know about modern-day slavery and what they need to do to end it.

...Looking Forward

Looking Back...

Just Breathe

The Teeter-Totter

Smile

On Scaling Down

Hold On

Made for Another World

Better Things Ahead

Episode 13

Your Legacy

The Problem of Slavery

About Me

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