i should be studying...

I have a lot of things on my mind today...especially surrounding identity.

Why am I so prone to identify myself with my accomplishments, how others view me, or how much someone wants me around?

Im sure this has to do with my innate need to be independent of Him, who has created me in His image.

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I think I am supposed to be doing or in my perception of others expectations of me that I lose the freedom that He has bought for me to be... me.

I believe lies that I have no value if I cannot serve others or be for them what they ask or if I feel any unpleasant emotion.

I am frustrated. I dont know how to talk about it because I dont know to whom to talk or what I am even upset about exactly...myself, my actions, my thoughts, or someone else.

In the end, the Truth is that He has given me all of His righteousness as no cost to me. How is that possible? Because in the beginning as soon as sin entered the world, God planned its solution through His magnificent Son who would, at great sacrifice, deliver the death blow to evil and rescue me. Rescue us.

My frustrations are a deal to me, but He has already fought for the solution and is working things out for my good. This is the truth that I must preach to myself each day to believe that I have value, no matter the circumstance or opinion of humans around me.

Its ok if I want to feel frustrated?

Breathe.

Your Roaring Twenties

Its your Roaring Twenties!! Live it up!

1. Don’t feel the need to respond to every text message, phone call, and email the second it reaches you. Once upon a time, it took longer than a minute to reach someone. People used stamps and envelopes; they had answering machines they didn’t check for hours, sometimes days. No one will die if you don’t immediately respond to every message you receive.

2.If you’re unhappy and someone offers you a way out, take it. Go after that awesome job, if you can see yourself thriving in the town. 

3. Never turn down an open bar. Seek them out and make them a priority. Indulging in open bars when you’re older isn’t appropriate because a) people will think you have an alcohol problem and b) you’re supposed to have enough money to afford your own alcohol.

4. Say what you mean. And mean what you Say. But dont say it mean. Be bold, but be intelligent enough to be kind.

5. Take advantage of all the energy you have in your 20s. In your 30s and 40s, your body starts getting upset with you. 

6. Invest your time in a new hobby...always wanted to sew, build, plant...do it! Master a new skill!

7. Play a sport you played in elementary school. Kickball, dodgeball. There are leagues for these games now. Get on it.

8. Learn how to cook. Here’s an idea — instead of spending all your money on ridiculously marked-up restaurant food, save your money by buying non-processed WHOLE FOODS and LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A MEAL OF REAL FOOD. A meal of real food is not a box of Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese — that’s PROCESSED FOOD. A meal is something like sauteed bell peppers with onions and sweet potatoes garnished with salt and cinnamon. You’ll thank yourself for learning how to cook when your metabolism catches up to you.

9. Build a good community! These friends will last your whole life for sure. You know yourself better than you ever have before and your friends can finally reflect that. 

10. Run in a race. 5k, 10k 15k, half marathon? Go for gold and run all 26.2 miles of a full marathon! Get out there and train with some friends, it will change your life. Especially if you do it for a good cause, like a charity!

11. Stay up late. In your 20s, you’re all, “Let’s go to another bar!” “Who wants to eat at a diner?” “Have you guys seen the sun rise from the High Line?” “In this moment I swear we were infinite!” When you get older, this becomes, “What are you doing? Go home. Watch Parks and Rec and go to sleep. What is wrong with you, staying up all night? Who has time for that?” If you’re in your 20s, you do. You have all the time. Do it now and take advantage of how not tired you are. You think you’re crabby now when you stay up too late? You’ll never believe how terrible you feel when you do it in your 30s.

12. Give up something you think you cant live with out for a month.. like sugar, carbs, or meat. See how good you feel!

13. Investigate spirituality. What if heaven is real? Wouldnt want to be wrong about that one...

14. STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR TRIP ABROAD. YOUR CHANCES OF TAKING A LONG VACATION ABROAD DIMINISH AS YOU BECOME MORE SET IN YOUR WAYS AND AS YOU GAIN MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

15. Do ‘unacceptable’ things to your hair. Dye it. Dread it. Shave only the left side of your head and give a crap if it grows back in a flattering manner (hint: it won’t). There’s no time but now.

16. Learn enough of another language to make it in the country for a week!

17. Sit down, unplug, and read non-fiction. Do this daily. None of your peers are doing it. They’re playing video games and refreshing Facebook and Gmail chatting about nothing in particular. After a month you’ll be smarter than all of them.

18. Walk into Forever 21 and grab every single crappily-made floral dress available. Is every other girl on the street wearing it? Is it literally falling apart at the seams? Is it also actually five dollars? BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. When you get older, your clothing becomes all expensive blazers and tailored khakis and other pieces that won’t break while on your body. That will be a great day — the day when your closet starts to look respectable. You will be a classy human ready to take on the future. But as long as you’re still in your 20s? You know — the demographic of Forever 21? Game on, stretchy black dress with pockets that lasts about a week. Game on.

19. Take road trips. Sitting in a car for days on end isn’t something your body was designed to do forever.

20. Go thrifting! Find treasures and repurpose them. This is a lost art. Find value in antiques and master creativity.

21. Go to/host theme parties. Once people age out of their 20s, no one’s trying to wear pajamas or Saran Wrap out of the house. The only theme parties that exist after your 20s are ‘Wedding,’ ‘Baby Shower,’ and ‘Funeral.’ 

Training...

Last night I got to speak to our youths at church in our Covenent Youth Discipleship, CYD, about the importance of being a part of the local church. It was awesome getting to share what the Lord has taught me about being in a community. He has blessed me so much to know about His design for us and given me a rockstar community in my college, in this town, and in my church. I love it so much.

Thank you all who are committing to help me reach my goal for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a I train to run this half marathon. My running schedule is intense, but it has been so good for my body and my soul.

If this widget isn't working, just checout my fundraising page:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/al/flypig13/savvismith

A Frankie Kind of Day...

Happy Valentine's Dayyyyy! I love today actually....so much joy in the air! Especially since today is BEAUTIFULL and sunny :)

I have been so inspired by my sweetest friend, whom I proudly know as my Big <>, JESSICA CLAYTON lately. I dedicate all the love in this post to her ;)

Enjoy!

 

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2012

Of the many surprising things that have happened in my life this year, by far the most unbelievable is that...
 I now really enjoy running and all its pains.

For growth to happen, there must be pain.

Both physically and spiritually.

That has been the theme of my 2012.

video

Here is a video to help understand what I am going to be a part of, so that you can know what your dollars are helping me accomplish for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.



To view my page directly, click here.

To DONATE to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, you may to to my page or by using this donate box.

Thank you for checking out this post.

I am going to RUN

Well, I havent posted in a while. I guess I have been too busy. Busy with what?

GRAD SCHOOL....

Finals are this week and I am stressed. But I have been dealing with this stress by running. Its been amazing. I have seen my body do things that I never thought I was capable of; which is amazing.

I have had a rough semester. Lots of new changes.

The GOSPEL has been so prevalent in growing me and keeping me sane.

Miraculously, I have been able to couple my spiritual growth with the wonders of physical training...the long grueling process that it is. Since I am so used to getting what I want pretty immediately because being an A-type personality in leadership in my sorority in college has taught me a lot about getting schmit done. This season of my life has been nothing like that. Its been slow, difficult, and not so over yet.

Running.

I have run in a few races and thats amazing. I did a 5K for United Cerebral Palsy and a 10K for who knows who in the Shoals. Today, I signed up for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Hot Chocolate Run 15K in Atlanta next month. Woo Hoo! I think I can do it.

Today I also found out about a program called "Team in Training," a part of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. LLS raises money for research specifically for blood cancers, but is unique in that when researching blood, they are able to find treatments for many types of cancers.

I am going to raise money for this foundation by running in a half marathon in May. I am learning to really love running and I have found a way to run with a purpose -to help SAVE lives. Its going to change my life.

I am asking you to help. Just donate to the cause. Its easy. You can do it right here and track my progress.

This isnt about me. Its about these people who have an illness that they didnt ask for and couldn't prevent. Its changing their lives, they are spending all their time and money in the hospitals and I want to do what I can to relieve some of the burden for them.

So I am going to be so thankful for my blessings. I am going to run.

You can help too.