Last week I went to the Tennessee Aquarium, and looking into the salt water tanks and watching the schools of fish, the sharks sea turtles, and stingrays swim by, I overheard a conversation between a father and his son. The father was describing how (certain types of) sharks had to keep swimming in order to live. Their whole lives and they never still... How wild is that? Sharks physically have to keep moving in order to live. If they're not moving, they can't produce oxygen.

            I kept going back to that idea, and I very quickly began to find a lot of symbolism in it. And I fully believe that if you look hard enough, God leaves us knowledge and advice to equip us, and not only in prayer and the bible, but guidance that can be found within his creations. It reminds us that if we're not moving: growing, changing, or evolving, then how could we possibly be living out our lives to the fullest?

            Keep going, keep moving forward. Even if you're scared. There's always room to grow and there's always new and exciting places around the corner. We weren't made to stand still. God created a far better legacy for us.

             Sometimes I let fear immobilize me, but real talk: you're never gonna grow inside your comfort zone. I think we sometimes have this fear of being defined by our failures. But in all honesty, I've discovered that we're defined by our actions, by our character, by our story, and failure is a part of that journey. And then sometimes it's not even about fear, it's about settling. Sometimes I just get used to things and before I know it, time is passing and I really didn't grow during that time. Carry that reminder, to always seek opportunities for growth. Don't let your goals and passions become a concept for the someday. Do something today, move today.

            Hello friends! Today I wanted to talk about morning rituals. I'm a total morning person, but I only truly love mornings when I feel energized and I have the opportunity to be productive. Morning rituals for me are all about finding positive energy to ignite the day, setting intentions so I can better seek out my goals, as well as engaging with my mind and body.

            There is nothing I dislike more than a rushed morning, I always find that it tends to leave me feel anxious the rest of the day. I feel like all the speed bumps and stumbling blocks of being an introvert are brought out, too. I'm kind of left with a pit in my stomach the rest of the day, kind of like how you feel when you're late for a deadline.

            Ultimately when I engage in this morning ritual, I also find that I am so much more motivated to actually seek out opportunities to accomplish my goals and I just have a better day in general. I'm more carefree with the daily stressors that life brings me, I'm more optimistic and inspired.

MY MORNING RITUAL

            I will say that most mornings, I don't accomplish every task on this list. And sometimes not even half on my work days. However, everyday I do make an effort to do as many of these as  I can. I find that the more that I do, the better day I have, and that makes me all the more motivated to do it again tomorrow.

            What are some things you like to include in your morning routine? I'd love to hear your answers in the comments below!

MEET MY NEW PLANTS

Camille

Maiden Hair Fern

Adiantum pubescens 
I call her: Lorelei

            Something I have been really trying to do lately is to be more conscientious of how I spend my time. I only really got thinking about it when I was prompted to change my way of thinking. Instead of using the excuse that I simply did not have time to do something, I needed to be honest with myself: I simply was not making that thing a priority. And that was a real eye opener. It really causes you to sit and reevaluate your self and how you choose to spend your time.

            Following that, I stumbled upon this exercise, writing a list of things I would rather hold in my hands than my phone. Of course, what is more important than this list, is being intentional in putting my phone away and choosing to live in the moment, or if I have to, bring meaning to that moment by finding something else to occupy my mind and hands. And with that being said, here are a hundred things I'd rather hold than my phone, and as I hope a hundred possibilities I can choose from the next time I reach for my phone out of boredom...

ONE HUNDRED THINGS I'D RATHER HOLD THAN MY PHONE

1. the bible
2. a hand written letter
3. my camera
4. a hand of someone I care about
5. a kitten
6. a stack of old family photos
7. my favorite book
8. someone's hair as I braid it
9. a mug filled with coffee
10. a plane ticket
11. the steering wheel of my car
12. a glass of ice water
13. my guitar
14. black nail polish
15. a bouquet of flowers
16. the comforter on my bed
17. a devotional
18. a new pack of sharpies
19. the keys of a type writer
20. a deck of cards
21. concert tickets
22. puzzle pieces
23. weights to make my arms strong
24. produce at a farmer's market
25. a slice of pizza
26. a psychology textbook
27. a paint brush
28. aquarium tickets
29. my passport
30. a coloring book
31. a Harry Potter book
32. the keys of a piano
33. stones on the beaches of Lake Superior
34. the handle bars of my bike
35. a honeysuckle flower
36. a journal and pen
37. a polaroid camera
38. my yoga mat
39. a postcard
40. someone close while we talk for hours
41. an iced coffee
42. hands in prayer
43. handwritten notes
44. movie popcorn
45. a list written on paper of adventures to go on
46. a national geographic magazine
47. embroidery thread
48. my laptop as I settle down to write
49. ballet slippers
50. a planner
51. a mug of hot chocolate
52. my cross necklace
53. a fortune cookie
54. a potted plant
55. a newborn baby
56. a photograph I developed in a darkroom from film
57. the reins of a horse's bridle
58. a collection of photos from my trip to Spain
59. a handmade gift
60. a sushi menu
61. a photo album
62. a to do list
63. my hands up in worship
64. movie tickets
65. a grocery list
66. a film canister
67. smores at a bonfire
68. my favorite ring
69. a venti sweetened passion tango iced tea from Starbucks
70. my Friends DVDs
71. tortilla chips and a bowl of queso
72. a list of positive affirmations
73. raindrops in the palm of my hand
74. my wood burning tool
75. a sunflower
76. a library card
77. a stack of my grandmother's recipes handwritten on scrap paper and index cards
78. a candle and a match
79. frosted animal crackers
80. a sparkler
81. a family scrapbook
82. a glass of sweet tea
83. a notebook full of outlines for a book I'm writing
84. a pottery piece handmade by my grandmother
85. the tiny hands of the kiddos I teach
86. tacos
87. clay I'm molding into something
88. my essential oil bottles
89. my suitcase
90. my hammock, while I hunt for a place to hang it up
91. the cross hanging in my rearview mirror
92. hemp string as I make it into a bracelet
93. a stack of books I'm buying from a local bookstore
94. a peach
95. a cookbook
96. a plate of baked pita bread and hummus
97. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
98. my water bottle
99. my gym membership card
100. a sharpie while I doodle a tattoo on skin

Dear Photography,

            Who would have thought that you would become my nearest and dearest companion. That I would take you everywhere with me. On every adventure, big and small, everyday of my life. You watched me grow up. You were there for me when I didn't even know that photography could be something more than beautiful, but embedded in me, a part of my very being. You were there in my childhood, when I didn't know how to appreciate such a connection. I never realized until many years later that you had a hold of me even then.

          One of my more vivid memories as a child was going canoeing with my family. I didn't know how to swim and I was overwhelmed with the fear that I'd manage to fall in. It wasn't until my dad handed me his old film camera, that I looked through the view finder and other else mattered. I know now that was the spark. Do you remember how awful the pictures were? Blurry, horribly composed...looking back, I have no idea what I was even aiming for half the time when I clicked the shutter.

            My entire life, I've been nothing short of a creative soul. As a child, I did everything under the sun that pertained to creating. I played make-believe, constructing my own little stories and universes, with the imagination of endless possibilities. I loved arts and crafts and I absolutely adored music. As I got older I began to read and write. I learned piano and guitar, and I loved to sing and dance. I did anything to share a bit of that rare beauty with the world.

            But it wasn't until you came along, Photography, that the world made perfect sense to me, that you and I were somehow meant to find each other. As I got older you became not just my way of looking at the world, but a way to hold onto it and an entirely new art form to fall in love with. My camera became a part of me and it never left my side. I set out to learn as much as I could about you and we ran wild.

            You became my obsession and it was because of you that I began to look at the world in a whole new way. You inspired me. You taught me to see beauty in everything, that it was all about perspective. I've gotten so many opportunities out of having you in my life. You've taught me to dream bigger and I thank you for that.

           And just so you know, it's just the beginning for us, my love. I already have great plans for us, just as I'm sure we will find something magnificent and unexpected around every corner. But if there's anything I know, Photography, is that you and I can do anything we set our hearts and minds to. And I don't think any of it would be possible without you, and I love you for that.

            Today, I want to encourage you to grab a pen, sit down with a notebook and begin writing a list (you will soon learn that I am a huge fan of lists). I want you to write down a list of all the things you would rather be than pretty. We spend so much time obsessing over how we look. And while there's nothing wrong with dedicating some time to work on your appearance, I think too often we become concerned with this idea that we are defined by our appearance - to the point that other things aren't as important. And that just shouldn't be the case... I found this exercise, and I instantly fell in love with the idea. Every word I wrote down, I gave thought. Each word has power to me, and each word I hope to embody.

THINGS I'D RATHER BE THAN PRETTY

  brave
  nurturing
  conscientious
  smart
  empathetic

  humble
  ambitious
  devoted
  polite
  free-spirited
  kind
  self-disciplined
  captivating
  inspiring
  loyal
  philanthropic
  loving
  open-minded
  philosophical
  generous
  trustworthy
  funny
  engaging
  wise
  soulful
  driven
  adventurous
  well-read
  creative
  determined
  charitable
  thoughtful
  hard-working
  intuitive
  encouraging
  gracious

1. practice yoga and meditation
2. sit and write in a coffee shop
3. go outside and feed your lungs fresh air
4. volunteer, it's a confidence booster and it opens your eyes to new experiences
5. start a journal
6. brighten someone's day
7. eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible
8. buy a plant or flowers for your living space
9. put on an uplifting song and dance
10. cook a new dish
11. go to an art museum
12. express gratitude
13. unplug, put away your phone and electronics for a few hours
14. read a book
15. watch the sunrise or sunset
16. go to sleep early, and get enough rest to wake up early, too
17. drink a hot cup of tea or coffee, or water (cold)
18. start your day off with stretching
19. listen to a podcast or an audio book (try multi-tasking, while your driving, cooking, cleaning)
20. do at least one thing that gets you closer to your goals
21. declutter, minimize your space and throw away or donate as much as you can
22. create a vision board
23. go on a friendship date
24. keep a notebook (a place to keep your ideas, your thoughts, to-do lists)
25. get creative (the possibilities are endless: photography, music, painting, writing, cooking, crafting)
26. work out, or try something new to shake up your routine (try only using your body, doing an outdoor work out, or attend a class)
27. listen to an instrumental playlist (Deep Focus on Spotify is a good one)
28. go on a drive (no destination, no plans, just drive)
29. burn a candle or diffuse essential oil
30. make a bucket list and start crossing things off
31. surround yourself with positive energy and people
32. treat yo self, take yourself on a date or stay in with good food an a movie
33. read the scriptures or indulge in something spiritual that's close to your heart
34. go to a farmer's market
35. watch an old favorite film

           My faith is my rock and it has remained my only constant. And for me, having scripture memorized is like wearing a suit of armor for whenever I may feel anxious or lost. As a part of being a Christ follower, I really like the idea of always having God's word with me - for example, I have a spare bible in my car, and a bible app on my phone, but sometimes even that doesn't equip me for every moment. Over the years, there have been many times I've felt overwhelmed when all I had to do was recite the word of God to myself and I found peace.

          When I find verses I'd like to memorize, I actually only do a few things. And it's so unbelievably simple, I'm surprised I haven't seen more people use this technique...

HOW I MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE

Step One: I GET TO KNOW THE WORD

          Personally, I will always pick a verse from a book or theme of the bible that I familiarize myself with first. I also try to wait for the verse to find me, because for whatever I am going through in my life, God has the answer and he will give it to me. Side note, I also learned in psychology, that context does help memorization. So when you have the backstory behind the verse, you can remember it better. It may take on infinite new meanings on how it applies to your life, but you know it's roots.

Step Two: I WRITE IT DOWN

          I always make sure to write the verse down on paper. I'll stick it on my mirror, my dashboard, anywhere I am a lot and will see it. I'll also save it to my notes app on my phone. That way I have a constant reminder.

Step Three: I TURN IT INTO A LONGGGGG ACRONYM

          Lastly, and this is the key part to how I memorize scripture, I'll take a pen and write down the first letter of every word from the verses I'm memorizing. Personally, I write it on the back of my hand, but paper works too. Every verse I've ever done this with, I've learned in a day - almost effortlessly. I like to keep at this technique for a few days, however, so I'm sure the verse is in my long term memory and I can recall it whenever I need it.

         Take James 1:27 for example...


         Like the picture above, I'll write on my hand RTGOFAAPAF... and so on. As I'm reciting the verse, I'll refer to these letters when I get stuck. And that is how I memorize scripture!

          Hello there, I'm Sarah and welcome to my journey and a place for all the light I wish to share with the world.

• I'm twenty four years old and an East Tennessee native who currently resides in Chattanooga. 
• I am passionate about non toxic and natural living. I'm also new on my journey, so I'm still transitioning and finding new products and recipes to fill my home with.
• I love learning about holistic wellness.
• I am a Christian and with everything I do my primary goal is to glorify God.
• So I suppose that makes me a Jesus loving hippie.
• I'm an artist and a writer and I come from a family full of artists and writers.
• I love photography, I learned about it through film as a teenager and I dream of having my own darkroom someday.
• I am full of wanderlust but I'm also a homebody. I've only been out of America once, when I went to Córdoba, Spain, and the city absolutely captured my heart (and that's where I took that photo of a sunflower field).
• I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology and I geek out over the subject.
• I'm an INFJ and a true introvert.

          My wish for this blog is to be a place of soulful conversation, creativity, holistic wellness and truth seeking. If you've made this far, I hope you'll choose to stay to learn and cherish life with me.