Middle Ground

I truly need to come up with a way to capture my thoughts when they are running through my head rather than only when I can sit down at my desk. The problem is those times are usually when I’m driving or when I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep! I’ve still not quite figured out this blogging thing as to when I should post, how often I should post, how I should categorize or theme the posts. I don’t know maybe that’s how it’s meant to be. I had thought I’d not send out another message until February but for the past week various thoughts keep coming to me so I felt the nudge that it was time.

We are nearing the end of January though so it certainly seems fitting to check in and see how things are going. Resolutions, goals, wishes, dreams, words, themes; whatever you “do” for the new year, how’s it going? Are we at the point where we’ve failed or did we reach that point two weeks ago? Or have you found great success and are celebrating almost a month of it? Perhaps you gave something up or fasted something this month; like alcohol, cussing or your favorite sweet treat and you are eagerly awaiting next week so you can indulge again. Maybe you are like me and you are somewhere in the middle of success and failure and maybe that is right where you are meant to be. I know for me that’s true.

Today marks 23 days of sobriety from alcohol for me. I’m counting that as a huge WIN! More importantly for me I actually am not eager for next week so that I can have a drink, I don’t want one. That is not to say the journey is easy because it’s not, I just know that I’ve consciously made the choice for 23 days to not have a drink at all so I know that I can continue to make that choice each day that I want to. Having a beer or a margarita does not have to be the norm for me no matter what society or anyone else tells me.

I was attempting a “no spend” month where I only bought necessities, that has not happened. I’ve definitely come up with things that I felt like I needed and more importantly that I wanted and I’ve bought them. I was also attempting a pantry challenge where I only bought a few specific items from the grocery store. I’m a prepper so this idea is not outlandish and very doable for me; but I didn’t stick to it very well. So both of these could count as failures.

Here is where we find the middle ground though, social media. I did not do so well at staying off of Instagram and Facebook. I cut back my time a lot, deleting the apps off of my phone and only utilizing the internet browser to view them. But I also got back on Twitter, on my phone, and used that as a replacement in many ways. This week I put the apps back on my phone because I figured if I was going to look anyway it was much easier that way. But I gave myself some limits and so far so good. Did you know that your phone will help you with that? Screen time stats and app limitations is a really cool feature, at least on the iPhone. Now sure I can hit ignore when my phone tells me I’ve reached my limit but yesterday I successfully heeded the warning and didn’t use them anymore. So balance right?

My word for 2023 was Rest and honestly so far I feel like that has been very true. We did take a weekend trip this month and we’ve had a lot of UVA basketball games to attend so one could say we haven’t rested. But I have truly rested in the word of God this month and I can see and feel the benefits of that. I’m a control freak but I’ve handed some situations over to God this month, for real, like I didn’t just say it and then still keep my hand in it, and I have seen Him move. He’s continued to drop bits of scripture or people or situations or podcasts in my path and all I can say is WOW!

It’s a cliche, it’s one of those “christianese” sayings, but I have to say it; I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow. I have no idea what the intent of this blog is or how often I should post or what I should post but I know it’s here for a reason. I have no idea why the phrase Arise and Glow came into my mind all those years ago but when I was able to get the domain I knew there was a purpose I’d not yet discovered. I have no idea what the year 2023 will bring but I’m okay with that. I’m going to continue the path I’ve been on in January and see where it leads. I hope you will too!

~Carla