Day 19: S is for Sunshine

(Not exactly sure what this is. I just sort of wrote it...haha!)

Just when it seemed like the darkness
Had taken over everything,
And nothing in his life could ever
Be beautiful again,
In walked the girl.
She had eyes like the sky
And a smile of sunshine,
She looked at him and saw.
And then she loved the pain away.
With her laughter and dancing,
Singing and smiling,
She made it known;
She helped him understand
that he still deserved a beautiful life.

Day 18: R is for Romance

People, this is real romance. Let's take a deeper look at each step.

#1. Going to the door when picking someone up. Whatever happened to the guy not only picking the girl up, but getting out of the car and knocking on the door? These days the boy sends the girl an "I'm here" text, or even honks to get her attention. Girls, you are not something to be summoned, you are someone to be cherished. 

#2. Dressing nicely for a date. Nicely, respectfully, classily, whatever word you want to use. Just dress in a way that shows your date that you care about them.

#3. Bringing flowers or other tokens of affection on the first date. Just today actually, I witnessed a boy nervously picking out a bouquet of roses, and my heart melted at the sight. Seriously, girls love flowers. There's something about them that's so special. Bringing flowers for your date is easy and inexpensive, but leaves a lasting impression.

#4. Going dancing that's not grinding on a grimy club floor. Don't you love watching old movies and seeing adorable couples waltzing or doing a jive together? And then you go to homecoming or prom and see modern day couples doing what they mistakenly believe to be dancing, and your heart just drops. There is nothing special, romantic, or even fun about grinding. Let's be a little more creative with our dance moves, shall we?

#5. Straightforwardly asking someone out. There's nothing more annoying than a guy vaguely telling a girl that they should "hang out sometime." If you really like a girl, you'll muster up the courage to actually ask her on a date.

#6. Being clear about when you're going steady. Let's be honest. Going on one date doesn't automatically mean you're boyfriend and girlfriend. Dating is just a way for two people to get to know one another in a deeper way, a way that says, "There could be something between us. Let's get to know each other better and then we'll decide." When you do decide that you should be a couple, it's time to have that serious but exciting DTR (defining the relationship) conversation.

#7. Romantic gestures like writing poems. I can't tell you how many times I've seen girls tweeting about wanting cute goodnight texts. Goodnight texts? Is that really all your heart is worth? What about phone calls, or even better, talking in person? Whatever happened to poems and love letters and songs?

#8. Turning electronics off and just being with one another. Is there any worse feeling than trying to talk to someone when they're looking at their phone instead of in your eyes, and you can just tell that they don't really care? Even more importantly, would you want your date to do this to you? 

#9. The general concept of asking permission for things. Even if you don't have any boundaries and are comfortable with everything, it doesn't mean your date will be. Be respectful of limits, and ask for permission before doing anything.

#10. This is the most important of all. Society will tell you that it's no big deal, that everyone is doing it, that you're weird and prudish if you haven't. But before you do anything that you might regret, think about your future spouse. They're out there, somewhere. Living, moving, breathing. Would they later thank you for the relationship you have right now? Or could it put a wall between you?

Let's go back to being old-fashioned, and let's bring back real romance. 

Day 17: Q is for Quaintrelle

(So sorry I didn't post yesterday. I was insainly busy, and didn't have time to even think about blogging until 11 o'clock at night. Needless to say, I didn't want to do it then. So here I am, posting a day late.)

I've had the word "quaintrelle" in mind for quite some time, mainly because I like the way it sounds, and its definition is exactly who I want to be. But until I tapped on the Spotify app on my phone and started listening to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack (whether or not you like the 2005 version, you have to admit it has a gorgeous soundtrack), I had no idea what I was going to write about. That's when it hit me: Elizabeth Bennet. 

Having grown up with three older sisters, I've seen my fair share of romance movies; but none of them have stayed with me as long as Pride and Prejudice. It was at a very young age that I decided, in my little feminine, feminist heart, that I wanted to be just like Lizzie Bennet. She was always so inspiring to me. I loved her spunk, her charm, and her strength. I loved that she didn't sit around all day, pining and moping and waiting for a Mr. Darcy to sweep her off her feet, like so many girls do today. No, Lizzie was a strong young woman. She wasn't "going to die if she didn't have a boyfriend!" That is what makes her a true quaintrelle. 

So many of my peers feel so alone and worthless without a boyfriend, and they become desperate. They become easy. They jump at any guy who shows the slightest interest, even if that guy definitely doesn't deserve them. Girls are forgetting their dignity and worth. They are forgetting to take care of their precious hearts. Think about what would have happened if Elizabeth got desperate, easy, and tired of waiting. What if she'd forgotten her worth? If she jumped at any guy who showed the slightest interest? Well, she probably would have married Mr. Collins, and the story wouldn't be half and beautiful and memorable.

But Elizabeth didn't forget her worth. She knew that her heart was more important than an advantageous marriage. She knew that she deserved love, so she waited for Mr. Darcy. But did she mope around while she wanted? No! Elizabeth lived like a true quaintrelle. She pursued her passions, she read good books and took long walks, she made memories with Jane and Charlotte, her two best friends. Elizabeth understood something that many people these days do not understand: singleness isn't a curse, it's a gift, and waiting shouldn't seem terrible, it should be a time for having fun.

So the next time you're sick of being single and "alone" (you're never actually alone), remember that if elizabeth had settled for Mr. Collins, the story wouldn't still be told. 

Day 16: P is for Passion

(Anna's encouragement for the day)

You were made to be a world-changer. You were made to make people question, think, and wonder. You were made for a reason: to make your mark on the world. So look. Search. Find that thing or person or lifestyle that sets your soul on fire. That is your passion, and your passion is your calling. Hold on to that feeling. Let the passion change you. Then take that change and use it to change the world. Because you weren't made to just pay bills and die. You were made to radically shake things up.

Day 15: O is for Originality

   Today's world is obsessed with "being yourself." This is a big improvement, because for a long time everyone thought they had to be this fake kind of perfect. Now people are starting to understand that it's okay (not just okay, but necessary) to be different. To let all your flaws hang out. To love yourself regardless of what sets you apart.
    I loved the new mindset that everyone seemed to have, so what did I do? I decided to be myself.
   Then the world said, "No, not that self. That self is too normal. Normal is boring. Being weird is so much better. Go dye your hair a crazy color or something. Stop being so quiet. You don't need to be shy. You don't need to be prim and proper. Go wild. What do you mean, you aren't comfortable with that? Just do whatever makes you happy. Be a jerk if you need to. Stop being so tame. Stop. Stop. You're so boring. Stop. Just be yourself!!!"
   Because of all of this, I started hating myself. You see, I absolutely love quirky people. And the world that is so obsessed with "originality" made me feel like I wasn't quirky enough. Because I wasn't crazy, I was boring. I bought into the "fake kind of perfect" game that never really did go away, just took a different name.
   I guess all I want to say is this: being yourself means actually being yourself, not being who the world tells you to be.
   So here's to the shy, quiet girls who don't always want to be crazy and wild. Guess what? You're still beautiful.

Day 14: N is for "Nice"

   There are many rules that come to mind when you think of being a Christian. You have to be loving. You have to give to the poor. You have to go to church. You have to be "nice." While none of these things are bad, and they certainly are important for Christians, many people are focusing too much on the rules and are forgetting what Christianity really is.
   It's not just about being a nice person. It's about completely abandoning yourself to Christ. It's about recognizing that He is your Savior. It's about allowing Him to become your best friend. It's about doing His will always, because you know it's what is going to lead to eternal happiness. When you stop stressing about the "rules" and focus more on falling in love, being a nice person is going to come a lot easier.

Day 13: M is for Magic

   We live in an imperfect world. It's full of anger, malice, greed, and unhappiness. But sometimes we get so focused on the bad things in life, that we forget about the good. Focusing on the bad is never going to change anything. We must learn to recognize magic.

    Magic. It's a word that ignites the soul and makes the heart long for something greater. Sometimes we get so worn down that we don't realize our lives are dripping with it. Magic is the feeling we get when we hold a baby for the first time. It's mixed in with the sound of breathless laughter. It fertilizes wildflowers and it paints sunsets. It's the yearning to hug longer and speak kinder. Everything good and beautiful and happy is magic. We just need to recognize it.

   Where is the magic in your life?