"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa
Hello World! Today I’m supposed to publicly encourage you.
Instead of me hammering out another post about how awesomely we were all made and how we’re all meant for greatness, enjoy this video by the always encouraging Kid President. And don’t forget: “You were made to be awesome!”
Check out my Inspiration board on Pinterest for more encouraging words, and check back every day this month for posts on the prompts below!
Interested in guest posting here? I’m looking around for people who are interested in writing a guest post for the 24th! You don’t have to have a blog. Contact me if you’re interested!
Seeing as I know next to nothing about make-up, it would probably not be in your best interest for me to share any tips of things you need. I do a mineral powder (I think that’s what it’s called?), mascara, and eyeliner as a basic thing. Buuut not always. Sometimes I don’t wear any. And some days I’ll just put on a little mascara and call it a day. Thankfully I’m blessed with fairly clear skin, so I don’t feel the need to do much more.
However, I do have something to say! I think the best way you can accentuate your natural beauty is to smile.
Now, I am far from being a pro at this because my natural face of no particular emotion is a combination of extreme concentration and back-away-before-I-bite you. And nope, I don’t have a picture 🙂 Sorry people. I’m not mad at you at all. Really. It’s just that my natural state of not doing anything with my face kind of doesn’t look like that cute baby up there. I’ve tried to get better at looking happier (because I really am! I just don’t always look like it) and hope that’s the case.
So instead of talking about this and that foundation, how about we focus more on our natural beauty and being who we already are? A smile goes a long way.
Sometimes when I read an article I’m inspired. Other times I’m dumbfounded by America. And a couple times recently I read something that made me sad (which doesn’t happen too often).
“Every time I hear someone say that feminism is about validating every choice a woman makes I have to fight back vomit.
Do people really think that a stay at home mom is really on equal footing with a woman who works and takes care of herself?”
“If women can do anything, why are we still content with applauding them for doing nothing?”
Feminism, right?
The rant about how this is not true feminism and how degrading it it for women who choose to have families and those who would like to but can’t could go on forever. But that’s not where this post is heading.
Instead I want to say how sorry I am for women who are so opposed to the notion of children (and married life in general) that they feel the desire to write things like this.
I’m sorry you perhaps have never experienced a joyful family environment. Most people who have could not possibly be so repulsed by families. If you have not experienced crazy dinner conversations that force you to close the back door so neighbors don’t stare at you weird the next day, then I’m sorry. Especially if you come from a broken family, I’m sorry you missed out.
I’m sorry you find children so disturbing and burdensome. It’s occurred to me how most people probably don’t have experience with kids because families have two kids and then there aren’t more around until you have your own. I count it as a blessing to be part of a “large” family and to have all my babysitting experience gained throughout the years. It’s made me appreciate the sacrifice families make everyday to work together because in the end families are what holds this world together.
In the end, the choice to get married and have kids is yours. Not everyone is capable of being a good parent, so maybe that’s where you’re coming from. But please don’t hate on moms. Moms make so many sacrifices for their kids, and their work is harder than any office job. You try being on call 24/7, not sleeping, worrying about the future, and running a household and then tell me it’s a walk in the park. I don’t think so.
Such a burden, huh?
Now I don’t have much authority on the beauty of mother hood since obviously I’m young and not married or anything. But I’ve seen awesome families. And I’ve seen not-so-awesome families. But does that matter so much? When you get to the end of your life, I hardly imagine you’d prefer to lay on your deathbed gazing lovingly at the diplomas on the walls and the million emails you sent around to coworkers. How about having a loving family around you? People who have been there you whole life no matter what you do and the mistakes you made. Families are what holds us together when things go wrong, and they are the people who celebrate every milestone with you as well.
Families rock. And babies rock too.
If you’ve never experienced that, then I’m sorry. You’re missing out. I think it would be harder for you to hate children so much if you ever had the chance to love them.
Here’s the back ground: Apple (played by Vanessa Hudgens) grew up without her father and with her mother who was a drug addict (and had a partner who was abusive). The mother loved Apple to the extent of the welfare she received from her, though you can’t deny there was probably something deeper.
Apple got so fed up from being passed through the foster care system that she ran away to her father whom she had never met. She discovers he is married with the perfect two kids and working on Wall Street. Nice, right? Oh, and conveniently she’s pregnant at 16. Through a various series of events, she decides to keep the baby, but she doesn’t have a place to go.
Various acts of kindness from others land her at a women’s shelter for young mothers where she is able to learn to trust people for the first time. Apple grows in a big sisterhood powwow and there are lots of cute babies. The girls all come from diverse pasts, but are bound together with the tenacity they have and motivation they are given from their house mothers to become the person they dream of being.
It’s a story of Hope, really, which is the name Apple gives her daughter. That’s the underlying message. No matter what your past is, or what you’re faced with (unplanned babies, crazy mothers who stalk you, etc.), you can overcome your past. You are more than it. Apple proves that when she has Hope and makes a better life for her.
When I first heard of the movie Gimme Shelter, it surprised me what big name actors were in this kind of a movie. With such a life-affirming message, why would they be part of it? Interestingly, it was not made or marketed as a specifically pro-life film, but it certainly gives off that message. It’s certainly no Hollywood-esque type film, but it’s real. It made me cry at more than one part.
And dude. The babies are really cute 🙂
Another cool thing about the movie? It’s a real story. The woman who started the shelter is Kathy DiFiore (pictured below) who has a big heart for women who just need to be loved in a time when so much is going on.
This picture is referenced in the movie.
I highly recommend seeing this movie not because it’s the next Hollywood hit, but because it’s a real story of hope. Life bring so much joy, despite the circumstances. It probably won’t be out in theaters for too much longer, so go see it soon! If you have already, what did you think?
Many times I’ve considered re-naming the ol’ blog here. But I like the concept too much to get rid of it.
Truthfully, I can’t really remember coming up with the name for my blog. I don’t remember the train of thought. I mean, why did I even start this? Looking back at my first post (in which I used the phrase “frolicking through my senior year of high school” AND tons of awkwardly bolded words *sigh*) you just have to laugh. It was right after I attended the national Pro-Life Youth Conference, and I’m pretty sure I just wanted to write about it and share pictures. Not sure though . . .
Mother Teresa was a beautiful, wonderful person. And BTW, I found out recently she had my same personality type. How cool is that?! This particular quote of hers is one of my favorites. The other (which I just realized one of my first posts is on) is now up on my wall. She is someone I would like to read a lot more about and learn from.
The concept of my life being “a drop in the ocean” kind of inspires me. I know that my life is not insignificant because the ocean is less without my drop – or yours. Every life is invaluable. Even on the bad days or the ones when we waste too much time. Mother Teresa’s quote reminds me of that and gives me a kick in the pants to make my drop a good one.
A Drop in the Ocean 