30-Day Blog Challenge: Day 22

Day 22 - How have you changed in the past year?

i stopped trying to be strong all the time.  i allowed other people to hear me cry (and often).  i found myself admitting that i don't always have it all together and that sometimes i need help, too. 

i found a way to let my walls down and trust the men in my life.  instead of getting hurt, i found places of shelter and of peace.  my boyfriend, ethan, my best friend, ryan, and my stepdad, doug, are all to thank for that.

i started saying no.  i began walking out of movies that were too upsetting and turning off songs that made me feel bad about myself as a woman.  i ignored phone calls from people who had continuously used or hurt me.  i learned that love can only go so far and it's not up to me to hold up certain relationships.

i learned that i don't always need to do, but sometimes simply be.  and in those moments of rest, i found incredible moments with God.

i began embracing being alone, rather than considering it a measure of my worth.

i gave up my efforts in reaching God and instead, let Him grasp me.  only because of His love am i able to offer anything back to Him.  i let go.  i let myself be loved.  in turn, His love has overflowed into every other area of my life.

i started embracing the skin that i'm in.

the skin that God made.

the vessel for my soul.

in the moments i succeed in that embrace, make-up becomes something fun instead of a necessity, and i find my clothes complimenting every curve in my body

rather than accentuating my self-described "flaws."

i have learned to find beauty in who God made me, rather than who i'm trying to be.



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"the growing process is never comfortable,

but it is amazing to look back and realize you're not who you used to be."