A friend asked me today “what excites you?”
There are MANY things that excite me but I honestly had to stop and think for a few minutes before I answered. WHAT REALLY EXCITES ME IN THIS MOMENT???
Yes there are things I have experienced that give me that adrenaline rush and I felt like I couldn’t get enough. Roller coasters, zip lining, taking off on the runway, when your horse pulls ahead into the lead in the Kentucky Derby, that nail biter game when your team is tied with Duke or Louisville (yes, I am a proud UK Grad!), pulling the handle on the slot machine, that moment when the lights go down and your favorite artist that you have seen 100+ times is about to walk out on stage, the butterflies and racing heart when you see the person you love, etc. etc. etc.
Lately I find myself hibernating from winter and not enjoying life to its fullest though like I want to. I am missing out on those EXCITING moments. I NEED to be outside in the sun. I NEED to be active. I NEED to explore new places. I NEED to be traveling to warm destinations. I NEED to be eating ice cream in the park 🙂 But it is SO cold outside in the middle of this gloomy January and I am just in waiting mode to do the things I enjoy again. I am in waiting mode until I find a more permanent job and a more permanent living situation. I am in waiting mode to get this book that I have outlined in my head written down on paper and published. Wait. Wait. Wait. Hurry up and WAIT.
And while I am in the midst of all of this waiting…am I losing my joy? Am I losing my EXCITEMENT for life?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the sermon at church this past Sunday. We are starting a new series on finding happiness. To me, happiness does equal excitement. And happiness does not have to come from the BIG things. Happiness can be found everywhere! The problem is that we do not take the time to open our eyes and look closely enough most of the time. Happiness is a CHOICE. You must wake up in the morning and CHOOSE to be happy. You must CHOOSE to be grateful for the blessings you have in your life. You must CHOOSE to have a positive attitude.
Yes, it is cold outside and I am not a fan of winter but I have a warm house to live in. I have books and a computer and my iPhone and my cats to keep me company. I have my good friends who contact me everyday. I have my Dad and my Sunday lunch visits with him. And I have my health. Those are plenty of things to be EXCITED about! Some people do not have any of the things that I take for granted everyday.
Writing this blog gives me a purpose and I believe my work now is meaningful, finally. That EXCITES me! I am hopeful about the future again and that EXCITES me! The thought of having a loving relationship again when at one point I thought I would be content to be single for the rest of my life EXCITES me! “The deepest ache of the human heart is to love and to be loved.” I have hope that it is possible again and that EXCITES me!
Take a look around at everything you already have in your life…you are probably more blessed than you realize. CHOOSE to be happy. Find out what EXCITES you.
One last but not least thing that EXCITES me is the feeling I get most Sundays when I go to church and hear the worship bands. I always enjoy the live music because it is like a rock concert every week but sometimes it is a more spiritual experience for me than other times. Yesterday they played 3 songs that each made me cry…joyful tears. I truly felt His presence. His unfailing love EXCITES me…God is good!
What EXCITES YOU??? 🙂
Stacey ~ iamalive
I have shared this song before but this was one of the 3 played yesterday and one of my favorites…Great Are You Lord…Enjoy! 🙂