1 More Day

Every day is a gift that I often take for granted. Therefore, I am starting this project on January 1, 2015 to remind myself of the joy to be alive. As soon as possible upon waking for 365 days I will take a picture. Some will be boring and many possibly hideous, but my desire is to inspire myself and whoever stumbles upon this page to remember the gift it is to have 1 more day.

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I think The Superstache and I found some truth this morning. #armorofgod #socialbubble #falsesafety #substitutetruth #thesuperstache #morningwisdom

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I get the feeling the birds at the beach are going to be photographed by me a lot.

Last night I was in a large group of people for a few hours.

Some of them were close friends.

Some of them I sort of knew.

Some I did not know at all.

We were all there together interacting. People connected through various ways by a common faith.

I talk about community a lot.

It is important. I believe it is one of the most important parts of a healthy life.

There is a light found in walking through life together. Much like the birds on the beach in the picture are in the light of the sunrise we find a light in the darkness of life when we are in community. Life can suck. Find people to walk in it together.

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My new home has finally started to feel like Christmas.

I love this time of the year and therefore getting the decorations out is always something I enjoy.

This year moving and having to unpack in December caused me to be late with the decorations.

Seeing it out now has me satisfied that I accomplished something.

How do you feel when you finish something?

If like me it is a positive feeling.

Sometimes when life is difficult one of the best ways to push on is by completing.

Do. Do not give up.

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As I was having my morning beach time I started thinking about how often I have tried to go the wrong way. Sometimes when life seems so hard and there seems no light it is because we are headed in the wrong direction. Turn around. Joy is waiting

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I watched several birds flying back and forth from 2 groups. They seemed to communicate and move together. Community. Last night I was at a gathering of locals. This is gathering was hosted by a prominent member of the local community. What was very evident was the fact that not only was he amongst peers and admirers, but also family and friends. This included him on stage performing with his two sons while The rest of us admired and felt true joy in the moment. This is an example of true community. Just let those birds moving together we as humans can move together. No matter what our struggles and hardships when we are not alone things can be and are better. Move together, cry together, laugh together, live together.

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The ocean is a constant in my life.

This week I finished moving into the new condo.

New walls.

New colors.

New sounds.

New location.

…

In all the “newness” one could become overwhelmed.

Some people enjoy change. Some people have a very hard time with it.

The picture is of the ocean at my new place.

The ocean is a constant in my life. I know if I am on the coast the ocean is there.

Characteristics such as how clear the water is or the consistent size of surf may vary at different locations, but the constant of the ocean being there remains.

With all the change in life having constants can help keep us grounded, inspired, hopeful, etc.

My faith is a constant in my life.

What is a constant that you can look to during the changes of life?

Find it. Let it be a positive for you.

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Only a few more of these. This weekend I make the last of the loads to move everything.. This beautiful place I have been got just over 3 years has a hold on me. Before moving here 3 years ago I vacationed here with my family every summer. There are so many memories here. Goodbye is coming. In our lives there always seems to be a goodbye coming. Some we can prepare for and some we cannot.

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Moving. I hate moving. I'm moving from south of St. Aug to St Aug Beach This is a good love, but it is hard. I am leaving a beautiful beach view home that has allowed me to grow and be comfortable with time alone. Now I am going to be physically living in the St Aug community and that is a great thing. Still, I hate moving. We all have to do things we dislike at times. I hate moving. Some people hate waking up. Mine is selfish. Their's is more severe. There is hope for both. I cannot even imagine living in the fear of depression and hating life. I just pray all find hope.

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Tried sitting on the balcony this morning and doing some contemplative prayer. This is a form of prayer meditation. The thoughts! I had the hardest time keeping my mind clear. I was constantly finding myself in thoughts on this or that. These were not bad thoughts, but they were filling my mind and interrupting the contemplation. Now, if I have a hard time silencing my thoughts that are harmless I feel for everyone that cannot control thoughts that are harmful. How do we silence the voices? How do we cut off the noise? It takes time. It may take professional assistance, but no matter what it is possible. Do not let the darkness win.

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I laid awake in bed for a hour today. I rarely sleep in. Last night I saw one of my favorite bands and did not get home until 1:30ish. I still woke up just a little after 6. I waited until after 7 to move. There are days we all have trouble getting out of bed. Some days we are just tired and some days it's something more serious. There is a balance between the rest we need and apathy. Fear of doing is fed when we don't act. Apathy builds on this. Learn the balance. Do. Grow. Find hope.

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Does your mind ever seem foggy? Do you ever feel like you it is hard to look forward? I think it happens to us all. The fog that I drive in today reminds me of a foggy brain. Some people battle this more than others. I am no authority on these topics, but I can say that people battling certain issues like depression and anxiety have told me they often have a foggy mind. The fog holds them back. They cannot think past it. For anyone who feels this way I hope and pray you remember the fog lifts. There is hope.

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The little problems. The things that go against your plan... I tried to dry clothes last night. The dryer stopped working. I had to hang all my wet clothes all over the bathroom. Is this a big deal? No. Could I let it and other little problems/setbacks pile up on this until I'm under a heavy weight of worry and depression? Yes. Things break. Problems arise. Unforeseen setbacks will occur. Do not worry. Do not be weighed down. Joy is much stronger, but we have to choose where we let our thoughts go. Go to joy. Keep the little problems little.

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My own shower. After being in a hotel this weekend it is very nice to sleep in my own bed and to be in my own shower. Adventure is good for the soul. Traveling with friends is a great way to build relationships. With all that said, being home is a nice feeling. Do you have a place you call home? A place to relax. Where you are comfortable and can enjoy your time with God and yourself. Having such a place is important for your soul and mental health. If you have such a place please do not take it for granted. If you do not then think how you can create such a place for yourself.

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Hotel room morning in Tampa. Last night I dressed as a ghost with 2 others for Halloween and went to a Taylor Swift concert in Tampa. For a 33 year old this may seem a bit silly and or childish. Probably. Enjoy opportunities to live "young" while getting older. I tell people all the time my Dad lives like the youngest person I know, yet he is still a very responsible adult. Live the life you love. Enjoy the people that God has placed in your life. Be able to be "young" no matter how old.

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I see a packed bag this morning. I am heading to Tampa right after work for a weekend with a close friend, scary movie and Taylor Swift/Vance Joy in concert. This post and the picture is not about the plans, but instead the travel. Driving causes me to think. Driving all the way to somewhere like Tampa gives me the chance to think a lot. Do you let your mind wonder? If not, may I ask why? Some of us fear our own thoughts. When traveling alone I feel as though I get go through everything in my head. Hopefully the thoughts that should scare me get cleaned out. Introspection is important. Pack a bag. Go for a swim. Coffee with a friend. Find opportunity to look at the thoughts that you fear. You will come out a bit more brave.

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Sometimes life does not go as planned. This morning sometime around 6:30 or so the fire alarm went off in my building. This definite threw a wrench in my morning routine. Some people would let this mess up the rest of the day. Sometimes I would let this mess up the rest of my day. When things like this happen out of our control how we react speaks volumes. Can you handle when things out of your control change your plans, life, etc? Do you have anxiety of the unknown future? Deep breaths, positive thoughts, faith and step forward. Life happens with and without us. I hope we all can live it in joy. Do not let our thoughts and fears keep us captive.

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I overslept this morning. I was in a rush to get ready and was not planning on posting.

Then I saw this sunrise.

Sometimes life grabs our attention.

Take the moment to stop and be in awe.

I did this morning as I stopped my rush and stepped outside. I felt the strong wind blowing against me. The ocean calling out with wave after wave. I stared at this amazing sky.

I took it all in.

Some days we need to stop for a moment.

Can in the life we have.

See the awe in our surroundings.

It can be fuel to keep going..