Happy New Year’s Eve! I’m sure you all have big, big plans to ring in the New Year and I can’t wait to hear about them. We are, for the first time in years, going to enjoy a quiet evening at home and for me, a full nights sleep. Yup, the kiddos are heading to Gigi and Papa’s for the night. Praise Jesus for Grandparents! As we roll into the new year I’m so excited to introduce the first of many guest bloggers I hope to have. I met Crystal at Domestic, But Not Martha a couple months ago and we instantly clicked. I was overjoyed when she agree’d to guest blog here at Rags to Stitches. Crystal has a contagious love for life, laughter and giving. Her story is one of courage and encouragement. I hope you enjoy her tribute to the New Year and check out her blog while you’re at it!
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HiHi Everyone! My name is Crystal and I blog at Domestic, But Not Martha. My blog is just about two months old and I have enjoyed every moment and getting to know the people I have met during this experience including Alissa, who was a part of my 25 Days of Handmade Holiday blog series (you can check out her feature here!)
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| Hi! This is me & two of my three little monkeys this summer, man I need some new pix.. |
When Alissa asked me to guest post for her (my first ever!) I was ecstatic and there may or may not have been some happy dancing involved. (Okay, there definitely was and my little ones joined in, it was great!) Alissa only likes me because I’m punny teeheehee 😉
I thought about allllll the wonderful things I could share with you guys but the one that stuck out the most, was probably the most obvious, over used post topic ever for this time of year but I had to do it anyways, the New Year.
Yes, it’s cliche. Yup, it’s every other post topic today but bear with me 😉 maybe you will just find something different in this one. To me, a New Year is a time of promise, hope, a clean slate to start over. It feels like a fresh new canvas, ready for me to fill with color, beauty, and happiness. New Years are full of opportunity. A chance to begin again and correct things that might’ve been wrong or off in the previous. A chance to explore and live. w00t! Sounds like a plan to me, right? You just may hate me for this.. but I am not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. Instead, what I believe in, is seizing the blank canvas and building a masterpiece. The perfect, mixed media piece of art (because let’s face it, no one is just using one method, but lots of mediums, music, memories.
I have this wild theory that if you are busy making positive change and uplifting others, you have less time to stress yourself about what you weigh, (which let’s face it, we are wayyy too hard on ourselves, be healthy and don’t starve yourself.) Take the time and money that we put into things we resolve to change (like eating out, smoking, etc) in our lives, and put it to St. Judes Hospital, TWLOHA, Make-a-Wish, local community or church outreach, etc. Put it towards your debts so that you are in a position to help others.The satisfaction is contagious, addicting, exhilarating.
I thought I would list some quick, easy, “painless” ways to make a positive change to share with you (My family does these and they work!):
- Watch & Listen. Listen to those in your life and watch those around you. You just never know who might be struggling around you. A hug, a conversation, your time is invaluable for uplifting others. You may possess resources & connections that could make that struggle just an obstacle that was triumphed over.
- REuse, REduce, REcycle, REgift, etc. We all have things in our homes that are considered “extra” or “clutter”. Instead of just throwing out perfectly good items because they are extra or not currently used donate them to Goodwill, someone you know, church pantries, and homeless shelters. Make sure they are in good condition. This solves your “clutter” problem and solves someone’s need. Recycle properly and encourage others to do the same. After all, if it doesn’t start with us, this is the Earth we are leaving our children & our grand babies to live on. Let’s give them something good, not something exhausted. My church’s Awana program collects recyclables in the area and uses those funds to keep the program free for any child interested in being involved. Begin or take on a similar project <3 Most do free pickup.
- Donate while you shop. I’m sure that all of you have noticed when you are out shopping for groceries, online, for your home, etc items that when purchased contribute to worthy causes. When grocery shopping notice items that sport Box Tops For Education and donate them to local schools. Purchase Yoplait yogurt during the Save Lids to Save Lives campaign every year and mail those pink pretties into combat breast cancer with Susan G. Komen. This year, I am wanting to build a “team” through my blog for SLtSL (get in touch if you are interested!) Ebay always offers the chance to donate dollar increments to MissionFish, which supports non profit organizations. Even fast food places, Walmart and nearly any store you go to has a cause they are supporting. Buy these items/donation cards/just make a donation and you are provided with what you wanted or needed and you give back easily through your purchase. Recently I shared a post about B. toys who are green (aka environmentally responsible), inspirational, and donates to Free The Children with every purchase, you can find it here, definitely worth a read!
- Pray. This is the most important, “cheap” or “free” way to contribute to positive change. Praying doesn’t have to be solely on your knees head bowed. Praying is talking with Him all throughout the day with your spoken words, your thoughts, your heart. When you see someone who is begging in the streets, pray for them, even if you are just driving by. Pray for the ambulances and other emergency response vehicles that are on the way to the scene, pray for the situation, those workers, the ones they are picking up & the people involved. My children even do this as simply as “God bless those involved and give them strength.” And I can tell by their tone, they mean it with their whole heart. Some of the greatest blessings I have ever received are from sharing meals with the hungry & homeless, not just donating, but sitting side by side, face to face, like a family. I have literally lived an example of His Providence turning a few “loaves of bread and a few fish” into a meal that fed way more than it was intended for physically and nourished them and me spiritually. (I think I need to blog that story!) If you see someone in public or near you weeping, pray for them, then ask gently if they are okay. I have had the opportunity to embrace and pray with several people this way and take the time to use corny jokes and a shoulder to lean on into smiles that were originally tears.
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| This was so cute, I had to use it for this example. |
Involve your children in this and cultivate these habits. This may be #1 on the list of “Crystal-ism’s” but it only takes one moment, one prayer or random act of kindness to make a change in someone’s life. That change, big or small, can lead to them to changing others lives. It is like dominoes falling, a chain reaction. Except that instead of pushing someone down you are uplifting someone to be stronger, even if it isn’t directly you acting on them. “Be the Change you wish to see in the world” Ghandi.
I hope with my whole heart, that your New Year is filled with only the greatest blessings, for you, those you love and those you uplift. Thank you for spending this time with me to chat and thank you, Alissa for being a love and allowing me to speak to your readers. Drop by and chat anytime on my Twitter, Blog, or Facebook. Let me know how your New Year is shaping up, what you are doing to make a positive change, or even just to say Hi!
Xoxo!
Crystal
Crystal
Crystal says
Thank you so much for having me Alissa! Best of the New Year to you!
Crystal <3
Sassy Sites! says
Thanks for linking up with Sassy Sites-Free For ALL Friday! I just posted my new party for the month of January… Operation Organization. Come by and check it out! Happy New Year! xoxo
msposhb says
Stopping by by via the weekend hops to say hello and to follow. Happy New Year!
http://poshonabudget.com/2010/12/happy-new-year.html
Slade says
http://www.RealDadReviews.com
Following your blog!
Please follow back!
If you could follow me on Facebook, that would be great!
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Thanks
The Dad!