And I'm feelin' good

I feel so light-hearted right now. I love it.

It's been a crazy busy week and it isn't over yet, but I feel so relieved right now. I think it's because I put on my rose-colored glasses.

Metaphorically speaking, I mean.

Here's another good-day list of good things:

1. I got to announce the winners of the spirit contest we held at school for Homecoming this week during our Chapel service today. It was fun to say that I appreciated them and that all the participants did a great job. I love encouraging people and a lot of times I don't take the time to do it. 
2. All of my homework is done for the week and that's just really nice.
3. The temperature dropped like, 20 degrees. I get excited about the cold.
4. I got to come home and see my family and puppy for a little bit before heading up to church to give a presentation to the high school youth group.
5. I think my presentation went really well. I felt more comfortable and it seemed like at least some of them listened to me.
6. I went to Starbucks today. Twice. Within a two-hour time frame. And got the same thing both times (soy no water chai with two pumps of cinnamon dolce) and they made it correctly and it was delicious and I want more.
7. My professor said that she's seen me grow to be better a lot over the past year and, well, that's good to hear.
8. One of the students in the youth group just sent me a message on Facebook and said that I did a good job talking tonight. I did talk a lot...
9. I got to see my boyfriend who I didn't think I would get to see for awhile. I helped him prepare for an interview tomorrow. I'm excited for him. I like being excited for people. 
10. When I arrived back to my dorm room, not too long ago actually, I opened the door and saw a pretty envelope on the ground with my name on it in glittery sticker letters. I opened the envelope and inside was a gift card to our campus coffee house and a card that said "Be Blessed" in more glittery sticker letters. And you know what? I am blessed. It caught me off guard and I really want to thank whoever did this. 

I am spoiled. To me there is spoiled and then there is spoiled. I am spoiled in the fact that I have everything I ever need and then some. God has given me so many things and so many experiences that I would never have thought I would want. I wouldn't trade any of it, not even my mistakes and mishaps, because then I wouldn't be where I am right now.

My friend told me today that I don't accept compliments very well. She was joking, but only a little. I don't know what to say in response. I do this thing where I say "Thank you" and then put my head down and scurry away. Yes, scurry. I am intentionally awkward to avoid awkwardness.

It makes sense to me.

When it comes to being blessed, I am learning to be more useful with my blessings. Those talents I have that I have a hard time accepting at times? I'm trying to be outgoing with them and use them in a way that brings glory to God instead of worrying about "rejection" and what other people think so much. As long as God thinks highly, I should be okay with that.

I've learned that being thankful sometimes entails more than just saying "I'm thankful" and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Being thankful requires some action, too, I think. If I say I'm thankful for the gift to draw but never draw, what good is that?

So, yes, I am thankful. You, person who left this envelope under my door, have encouraged me. I want to encourage people more because I like doing it. It certainly can't hurt, can it?