January 29, 2023
Good afternoon! I pray that you have all had a great week. My week has been fairly busy, it started out with having an amazing zoom conference, STAND Club, and then we finished out the week with the Sadie Hawkins Dance at my school. I had so much fun getting all dressed up and being able to spend time with my friends outside of school. To be honest, I hadn’t put on makeup for like weeks until last night. Anyways, this week I wanted to focus in on the topic of God’s divine intervention.
So, I had this zoom call scheduled for weeks now. It was going to be a one on one discussion for a sweet lady I met at one of my past speaking engagements. She is currently going through school to get a higher degree and she needed a student to “mentor” for her class. I was so excited when she chose me because I knew that these zoom calls would more than certainly bring me encouragement. I was not exactly sure however what each of the five calls would entail. Now set that point aside,
I had been struggling all last weekend and week to figure out what to do during the mental health club I run called STAND on Thursday. Usually I have specific activities and lessons planned but this meeting just crept up on me. (I know you’re probably thinking Gracie unprepared no way lol) But seriously I had been going back and forth all week trying to come up with a plan. I prayed on Monday night that God would point something out to me and He did just that.
Listen to this, the following afternoon, I got on this scheduled zoom call with no intentions for coming out of it equipped and knowing exactly what I was going to do for STAND club but it just so happened that way. After talking with the lady and hearing her lesson on optimism, she gave me the invitation at the end of her talk to share and use her lesson for my club. I hadn’t even said anything about not having a plan but she knew right then and there that I could use her lesson to pass on the STAND members. So, this is what I did, I borrowed her PowerPoint and made a few adjustments then came up with an activity to go along with it. Now being that that the meeting is over, I can confidently say it may have been the best one yet. All of the members were so engaged and I think everyone there took away from the lesson. This just goes to show the amazing ways in which God intervienes at just the right time.
Now I say all of this to say that everything you experience in this life is according to God’s plan. He doesn’t promise us that life will be easy however, He does promise that He will always be by our side. Even when you feel like He isn’t there, trust me when I say HE IS. He hears our every word and although our prayers may not be answered on the spot, He hears them and is working for you. Trust His process and never give up hope.
January 22, 2023
Good afternoon! Did you find a time last week to look into personal care and taking time to be present? I was honored last Wednesday to be asked to speak on behalf of students in a Positive Education Consortium through zoom. It was really interesting and eye opening to see so many people taking charge in different ways to combat the common struggle of mental health in students today. There were over fifteen adults on the call that lasted an hour and a half. The call was so encouraging because it was simply each of us sharing our vision for the future and how we feel we could make the biggest change amongst adolescent mental illness. With this being a growing concern in communities worldwide, I think it is something we need to ring in as soon as possible. Students just like me are the future of our world and if we do not find ways to limit and treat mental illness in a forever lasting and efficient way, who knows what struggles we will face in the future.
After thinking on the question of “What could be done?” I have come to the conclusion that the most effective way to treat mental health is to be open and honest. To share our struggles and support those going through the burner. To be considerate of everyone facing difficulty and to talk about the reality that everyone deals with mental health and negative coping skills in some way. We have all had enough of the judgement and constant worry of what others are going to think about us instead, we need to turn these struggles and face them head first with a army of fighters. By army of fighters, I mean each other. God sent each of us to this earth to lean on each other and fight our battles together.
if you ever feel like you don’t have an army of support, please by all means reach out to me. I am here for you no matter what and I will be your biggest cheerleader in this life we are living. You are bigger than your struggles even when it doesn’t feel that way and God is bigger than all of our struggles combined therefore, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6. Do not anyone tell you differently, God is always here for you no matter what. We can never be “too far gone”. I love you so much and I really hope this weeks message will bring you a since of belonging and excitement for what this life holds ahead.
January 14, 2023
Hey y’all! I pray that you have all had a great week full of graditude and allowed you to see the ways He is using you to make an impact in the lives around you. (Even if you don’t see it now, trust me when I say He IS and WILL use you in ways you never imagined) I am a good example of this. God took a painfully shy, introverted, reserved little girl and through the diagnosis of an eating disorder and recovery from those difficulties faced, she has proudly became a inspirational speaker, someone who doesn’t stop talking, and a girl who’s passion is to change the world for the better. If you would have asked anyone in my family 5 years ago who I would be today, it would most definitely not be who I am today. It is only through the power of God alone that I am here today speaking proudly on behalf of my testimony and trials in life. However, I say all of this to CAPITALIZE the idea that no matter how hard of a trial you are currently facing, don’t ever think it is for nothing. God has an immaculate plan to use your testimony just as He has done mine.
I kind of got off on a spill there but, now to the main point of this update. So I did something this past week that I honestly was not very sure about. Now before I tell you what it was, keep in mind that I am a very busy person, I truly think on top of all my other diagnosis’s, I also have ADHD because I never sit down. I always feel like I need to be doing something productive. Whether it be homework, cleaning, organizing, or anything you could possibly imagine, I am going 100 MPH until I hit the pillow at night. To be honest, this is not really a very healthy way to live because research even shows that as people going 24/7 it is very important we take time to relax and rest. SO all of this to say, I scheduled myself a facial last Tuesday. Like for real, an hour of me simply sitting on a chair getting my faced massaged while my mind ran ramped of all the things I could have been doing instead. If you don’t understand why this is so counterproductive, a facial is meant to be relaxing, a way to clear your mind and be present. Yeah ummm, no not for me. Although it felt great as far as my skin and the heated chair but for real, It did the complete opposite in terms of unwinding from the “real” world. That all to be said, I wouldn’t take it back because it helped me see something I need to focus more on; self care.
In my constant going, I find it extremely hard for me to say no. It could be a speaking event, a leadership role, a zoom conference, or even a babysitting opportunity. Whenever I am offered or asked to do something, I feel beyond guilty if I cannot do it. Which just means, I rarely say no. Now, in some cases this is a good trait, in other ways it can be pretty harmful to the way you treat yourself. There have been multiple instances in the past few weeks that I have had my mom come to me and say, “Gracie you can not take on anything else.” And while that is really hard to accept, it is so true. I don’t have to do everything and be everywhere. It is okay to say no. It doesn’t mean your lazy or unmotivated (I mean it can if you know what I mean ;)) but realistically, there is no possible way for us to give 100% to everything if we are doing 100 things. I hope that this week, you will carve out some time for yourself. Even if it is only 30 minutes, be alone for a little while, check in and ask yourself if you need to take a few steps back. It is so much more beneficial to give 100% to one thing than 30% to ten things.
I love you all so much and hope this encourages your o make some changes this week. Please let me know if you need anything and just a side note, VAlentine’s day is coming up. What better way to show your love for someone than to send the a B3 Box free of charge? Simply fill out a form by clicking the B3 Box tab at the top of the screen!
January 7, 2023
Good afternoon! You made it! You have made it through the first official week of 2023! How has it been? To be honest, for me it hasn’t really clicked yet. As I sat down Monday morning to take notes in class, I titled my paper still writing 2022. For me, it won’t be instinct to say 2023, until probably the middle of the year! Anyways. that is besides the fact. I hope that you have all had a good week whether you have treated it like a new year or not. I pray that you have been able to set new challenges and focus on the parts of your life that you have been potentially slacking off.
For me those areas that I want to pay special attention too this year include one, being present. I get so lost in the everyday tasks of life that I loose sight of the idea that I need to just “be”. Be in the moment, not thinking about what has happened or what might happen instead, just really looking into right in that time. I don’t know about you but this is so hard for me, my ADD gets in the way and I want to jump to tomorrow or even next week. Being present is so important because it allows for us to be more thankful, improve our concentration skills, and just form a good habit. Christ says in Deuteronomy 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you. he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” He is with us at all times, therefore, let’s stop worrying about the past and future and for us on the right now instead.
The second thing is, I really want to start complimenting myself more. Now I say this not to sound selfish at all but in fact the complete opposite. For me, it is 100 times easier tear myself apart, look in the mirror and point out all the wrongs, criticize the body God has given me, and pick out the personality traits I don’t like about myself than it is for me to build myself up. We need to consistently be complimenting the temples God has blessed you and me with. We were created just as He planned so ask yourself, why are you pointing out all the “wrongs” of His creation. I have started taking all of the negative comments I have towards myself and turning them around to be positive. By doing this, even if I don’t believe it to be true in that exact moment, it is helping me escape the negative thoughts and focus on the blessings instead.
I hope that by hearing my two goals for 2023 that you will also find these aspects of your life you want to focus on. I hope you have an amazing week, remember to stay strong and trust God’s process. I love you all so much!
January 1, 2023
Okay this feels unreal! We are past 2022 and now have officially entered the year 2023! I hope that you have all had a fabulous holiday season celebrating Christmas and following that up with New Years. My family and I have had a really good time together. We spend Christmas morning together opening gifts, sharing stories, cooking, and had a lunch instead of dinner because my dad had to work Christmas night. Overall, it was simple and sweet, just my mom, dad, brother, sister, and me. Well you can’t forget about the five dogs and two cats who were also snuggled up inside because it felt like the Antarctic outside.
We spent the day with a fire in the fireplace, playing monopoly, and after laughing so much sharing our “Icks” about each other (its a trend on TikTok where you say the small things others do that bother you), we switched gears and started talking about what we cherish most about each member of the family. It was honestly so nice to hear each of us filling and lifting each other up. You could see each time one of us would say something we loved most about that person, their face would immediately brighten. I think it was so meaningful because while yes, we think about the traits each person carries, it is quite rare that we actually share them face to face. But the amount of joy you feel from hearing others brag on you is so satisfying. It is so euphoric to hear the appreciation from those you give time and thought to.
I know it is said a lot, but be sure to thank those around you. It doesn’t matter if it is as big as providing for you financially or as small as someone holding the door, be sure to express your appreciation because it can truly make or break someone’s day. These simple reminders give us the boost to keep going in life and to not back down when it comes to helping those around us. We as people living in todays time get so caught up in the routine of life that we forget to do these small acts of kindness. Which means it is even more special when we do take the time to thank those around is.
More importantly, don’t only thank the people living today, but thank Christ for allowing them to hold a place in your life. If wasn’t for God’s plan, you would have never crossed paths with them. I challenge you this week to really look into how you show your appreciation. On top of verbally thanking those around you, I want you to take a minute to write a letter to someone who has made a big impact in your life. Thank them for the guidance they provide and the love they show. I promise by doing this you will make that persons week!
I love you all so much and along this topic, I am thankful for each and every one of you. I am thankful that there are people who support me in my recovery and who take the time to read my updates. I am thankful for those who submit B3 box forms for themselves and others who may be struggling, I am thankful to have the ability to encourage and use my testimony to change the lives of those around me and most of all I thank the Lord for trials I have faced thus far in my life. Stay strong guys and have an amazing week starting brand new.