The Process

All of Life is a Process

     
     I have come to the realization, life is a process.  Sometimes the process is the consequence of our bad choices. That is not really what we are talking about today. That is for another blog. I have made mistakes. I am not perfect. I have had to suffer the consequences of my actions. That is for another blog. Even though it is wonderful and freeing. When we own our poor life choices. Instead of blaming others and blaming peer pressure. That is for another blog. I could write explicitly about that. Let me stop right here.

Air Plant, just because

    What about when life hands you lemons? When you are going through times and trials that are not of your own making. When real life is happening. My thoughts are that life usually mirrors seasons. People are free to disagree. For me the season of trial is winter. No this isn't going to be a winter hate blog. No matter how disagreeable and nasty the season is.

Daffodils poking through the cold hard ground
In February

    Keep in mind that everything that is costly and beautiful, goes through a process and sometimes it is painful. Diamonds require high temperatures and pressure.(1) Gold needs a fire (2) to be refined and remove the imperfections. Gold and diamonds have no feeling. If gold and diamonds had feeling, the pressure would be painful.
This is just the creation. It doesn't take into account the cutting and molding from human hands.  

   When a pearl is created. A parasite or some type of irritant, takes up residence in a Oyster shell. (3) It can take six months on wards up to four years. Interesting thought that the pearl that took four years to form would be the most expensive(4) Even the odd pearls that are flawed are still beautiful.

    A caterpillar has to die, to become a butterfly. (5) It spins itself into a cocoon. Then it digests itself, but some cells remain. Having once watched the metamorphosis. From caterpillar to butterfly. It looks awful and painful. 

     This is the verse that has brought me comfort, during the winters of my life. Even if it has taken me a while to come to this point. The reason I am writing this blog. Is because of my current trip through winter, both spiritually and meteorological. (link below)

Progress Report, Part Two

2 Corinthians 12:9

I use the NIV and it isn't up for discussion.

     

Another verse that has brought me comfort. 

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

      Daffodils among other Spring flowers need a hard and cold winter. This is from my own personal experience. Once when we had a very warm winter. We had no daffodils or tulips. I personally loved it, the bulbs? Not so much.

    In February when the Daffodils start sprouting. They often have to endure terrible circumstances. Snow, ice and freezing cold temperatures. Yet they survive. They persevere and bloom in due time. They are all the more beautiful for their suffering.

Before

After

A few of my other blogs
What I have been doing? Progress Report, Part One
What have I been doing? Progress Report, Part Two

Bibliography
1.  https://geology.com/articles/diamonds-from-coal/
2.  https://www.britannica.com/technology/gold-processing
3. https://www.livescience.com/32289-how-do-oysters-make-pearls.html
4. https://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html
5. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/caterpillar-butterfly-metamorphosis-explainer/

New Year's Resolutions! Update!

Flowers go through a lot of trials just to bloom.
They don't give up!

1. Make God a priority and less of an afterthought. (Should.        have been first, in the first place)

This wasn't the first resolution. The first time I wrote this it was originally number seven. It really should have been number one.

This is one that I have kept. This is so important to me. Really it is. Even though it was originally one of the last resolutions. Just trying to do better.

2. Continue what I have been doing with diet and exercise.
    Come back in six weeks to read my blog about in mid
    February!

A blog about this will be coming soon! (about two weeks!) So stay tuned.
I am really excited about this and I can't wait to share it with you! Squee!

3. Work on organizing my stuff. Take one room item and
     organize it. That is also something that I have been
     working on in the last part of 2017.

Hangs head in shame.

I still found my purse though. That should be celebrated.
 
4. More joy and less negativity. You have no idea how hard this is. (I am a grumbler)

I could do a lot better. I am a grumbler and complainer.

It has been really hateful cold and that does affect my mood.

At least I haven't sat around the house whining about how I don't want to go out. Since it is so cold outside. I have been tuning out the news though. Their only goal is to create drama.

 

5. Less negativity about celebrities and fauxlebrities alike. They

    are after all humans with feelings.

Hahaha! I could do a lot better!

6. Less negativity about the people in my past. I am going to try
    and live by the phrase. If you don't have anything nice to say.
    come sit by me. Don't say anything at all. By you, I mean me.

 

Working on this. Could do better

Forgiveness is for my own well being. Not for the other person. Just because I forgive. Doesn't mean I've given the person a pass. It is just for me. I'm not going to hang onto the past. I have done this too much. It affects my health.

7. Read more and I don't mean Facebook. I mean real books.

I've been reading more. 

8. I'm also going to get my nose pierced. Well with all self
    reflection. I need to do something fun.
    (hmmmm Second thoughts on the nose piercing. If that is the
     only resolution I break. I am doing good)

Umm yeah, about that. I have almost determined that. I am not going to get it done. My nose is entirely too sensitive. So I will have to be envious about peoples adorable nose studs. I am going to have to pick something else fun to do. No I am not going to get a tattoo. Tattoos aren't for me.

I wrote all of that. To show that it is okay to mess up on your resolutions. You're human and you're going to make mistakes. It is okay to keep working on your resolutions. Even when you've messed up.

Just keep being better. You have only failed. If you give up.

Fall seven times. Pick yourself up eight! Just don't give up, ever!

Even if you decide to do better in June. Or even now. It is good to do something. I am going to try again to become more organized. It isn't too late!

Never, never, NEVER give up! ~Winston Churchill

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~That's my .02 cents. Not that it is even worth that much~