What have you ruled out that needs to be redeemed?
You have spent weeks, even months thinking about the goal you set. You watch the deadline (that you made) creep closer and closer. You give it a good first draft or attempt, think about it, but somehow it leaves the front of your mind - the same place it was previously running around everyday. You put it to the side for now, but you’ll get to it eventually.
Life happens.
Your deadline passes you by while your priorities, your work, your family and relationships (all demanding and all equally important) pile up.
Time passes.
What was that goal you set? How did you forget?! Now you’re bummed! You may even feel defeated. And a little embarrassed because you shared the goal with a few close confidants and now they know you didn’t meet your goal.
What should you do now?
Hello friends!
Welcome to my brand new website. My name is Danielle, and I hope is that as you read these entries, we all learn a little more about ourselves and LIFE! I love to share about my interests, explorations, and current musings. I’m so excited!
Now, I have (along with so many others) attempted to release a blog, set up a site, and do other little creative things in the past. I’ve ticked every box I presented in my little intro, many times over. Have you been there? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
I consider this site more of a relaunch, a rebrand, and a reintroduction. I turned 28 this year and I feel more confident and proud of myself than I ever have. I’m catching up with missed deadlines, picking up the pieces and trying again. And I can honestly say I’m finally ready. I have a few goals I’ve set along with releasing this site, but that’s in a blog post for another day.
I want to end this blog with a little encouragement. Can I tell you a story about me?
Like many of you, 2020 was a hard year. I consider myself to be a spirit filled Christian with a strong support system. What was the hardest part of 2020 for you? For me it was definitely the Summer months. I’m so grateful for this year and all that I learned, but this Summer was packed with devastation and heartache.
I lost relationships. Others were severed for several months. I experienced betrayal. I had several dark days and took several steps backwards in the work I’ve done in my battle against my depression, something only a counselor and close confidants know much about. The longer I was sad this Summer, the more upset I would be. Not upset at anyone else, but myself. I was upset that I was upset, then I was upset that I was allowing myself to be in that state for so long. We lost a family member to COVID-19. Then our family dog passed away unexpectedly. Insert slick/even crass remark pointed at 2020 here -> __________.
“I was upset that I was upset, and then I was upset that I was allowing myself to be in that state for so long.”
I remember there was a 2 week span where I was overwhelmed with so much stress and anxiety that couldn’t keep food down or even in (sorry TMI). I had so many severe migraines and stomach aches back to back and lost almost 10 pounds in a little over 2 weeks. I am so much better now, but I did see a doctor and made a few permanent positive decisions for my health.
I mentioned before that I have a wonderful support system. I have an amazing boyfriend, Joris, who loves me so well and is so encouraging & supportive. I’m also very blessed to have awesome parents, a younger sister, Nicole, and a younger brother, Nate. Unfortunately, my family experienced some of the same hardships as I did, so we ended up taking turns playing the role of encourager vs the role of gloomy Gus. To say it was draining would be a gross understatement.
You’ll hear more about my family in the future, but for now and for the sake of this blog, just know it hit all of us, and it dragged on into the Fall months that followed. I remember one day in September, Joris and I were talking and laughing about how hard the year was. He had 2 major knee surgeries in 2019, leaving him in a wheel chair or crutches for the last half of 2019, so to say the least, we had A LOT to laugh about and reflect on. (Sidebar: This is one of my favorite things about him, we can laugh about anything! I love choosing to laugh in the midst of a not-so funny time. I think laughing keeps you from crying too much, but can help you process the same feelings and thoughts you would while crying. Don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t love a good cry? But I think learning the art of laughing in the middle of your pain is a a good little secret to utilize when you want to lift your spirits but you’re not sure how.)
“Don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t love a good cry? But I think learning the art of laughing in the middle of your pain is a a good little secret to utilize when you want to lift your spirits but you’re not sure how.”
The major details of this story are quite long and SPECIAL, and deserving of it’s own blog post, but what I can say now is that by October, everything changed. It was supernatural. Within the next 30 days, starting on October 5, a lost dream was revived, wrapped in a pretty bow, and delivered right to our doorstep. With it came joy, music, healing, affirmation, emotions, JOY, and so much more. I can’t wait to share the rest of this story and MORE with you, but until then… Thank you so much for reading if you made it this far! And if you’re still reading, I pray you are captured by this thought: no matter what you are facing in your life right now, all of it can be redeemed. The entire thing! Your loss, heartache, depression, financial struggles, shame, ALL OF IT can be redeemed at any time.
So my last question is this: what have you ruled out that needs to be redeemed? What needs to be revived?
I pray that you think over this question and hope that life would begin to wake up those little pieces of your life that have died or dried up. Watch life spring out of dead places and look for the unexpected. Keep your eyes open for the miraculous. You might just be surprised how your outlook turns around.
Be sure to leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your feedback! And let me know if there’s anything you’d to read about.
xxo Danielle