Motivation

Before I begin I thought I should say something about my one word blog title names. Well I'm not sure why I keep having the one word titles for my blogs but it all just keeps making sense in my head right now... Anyway so the word of the day is motivation. It popped into my head as I watched the dreams of the NC State Football team be crushed on Saturday when they lost to Maryland. I just had the thought of what was giving those boys the motivation to be out on that field that cold night, what gave them the motivation to fight and come back after being down by a few touchdowns, and even what gave them the motivation to want to play football in the first place? Well since I'm not an interviewer or reporter and can't interview my hero Owen Spencer ;) then I guess I'll have to bring it back down to things I can ask myself and even you can ask yourself. This month of school and even the month to come is filled with project, tests, finals, papers, you name it! So how in the world am I making it through? If I had a motivation meter I'm pretty sure these last few weeks it has been set at a 2. I'd rather watch tv on my computer than study for anything! So where does the motivation drive come from? Well I know where mine comes from and I would just suggest to you to do some soul searching over the next few weeks when you're so busy you could lose your mind and figure out where your extra boost is coming from. Enjoy the next few weeks and remember there is light at the end of the tunnel!

For I can do everything through Christ,who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Comments Welcomed :)

Purpose.

How many of us out there question our purpose everyday? What is the purpose of this class I'm in, what is the purpose of this job I'm at, etc. You can fill in the blank when it comes to the "what is the purpose of________" question and you can probably come up with a number of things, just like I can. So what is the purpose of the situations and experiences we go through on a daily basis? Well I have no idea but my thought is that the easy answer is that we are being taught something. When we look back on the things we've been through we can almost always think of a time when we said "what is the purpose of this", but then we can also say that we learned something from that time too, either good or bad. So try not to be weary or discouraged by the situations or experiences you face daily in your life because there is some light at the end of the tunnel even if you necessarily can't see it yet.

Comments Welcomed :)

Trust.. Is it Just a Five Letter Word...

Trust is a five letter word that has a great deal of meaning behind it. So of course I looked it up in the dictionary to see what it said the word meant. According to Webster, trust is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. It doesn’t just say reliance on it says assured reliance on; therefore this is something that you hold security in. This five letter word holds so much power behind it. So what does trust mean to you? Have you ever really thought about the people you trust with the information you give them. Have you ever trusted someone who’s broken that trust? These questions may seem intense and harsh but with the world in the shape it’s in today who can we really trust? Ask yourself who you are putting all your trust in.

Comments Welcomed :)

Thankfulness

Have you ever took a moment in the morning when you woke up and just even thought to be thankful that you even woke up? Or are you like me and you hop right out of bed and immediately think about the things you have to do for the day, what to wear, who you're hanging out with, etc. I'm guessing a lot of you are like me and do the latter. Well I'm here to tell you that I have been blessed to be thankful about the things around me. A lot of you are probably thinking "Oh no! Something tragic has happened in Jeneé's life and it's causing this sudden change of heart", but nope not at all! This sudden urge of thankfulness just came to me yesterday when a friend of mine's face lit up when she saw me after not seeing me for the whole day. Random right! But it gave me the thought that I should be extremely grateful and thankful. She might well be the bestest friend I have right now; not only does she encourage me everyday but she is willing to put up with my weird moods, pray for me and with me, but she also shares her space with me. All these things are little things in our eyes because most times we think of being extremely thankful in times of pain or great tragedy. But it's the little things that count. It's waking up in the morning, it's having food on our table, it's having clothes, and it’s having people in our lives that show us Christ everyday.

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Comments Welcomed :)

Inspiration

What inspires people? Is it a great friend, professor, music, God, or just plain life in general? I've been exploring this question for awhile now as I have been trying to write about five thousand blog entires for the past few weeks. I've had some bumps in the road along the way but I think I've come to some sort of a conclusion on what inspires me. I think it is the world around me. I love music and so today I got to listen to some new music and it was just really about over coming and I felt inspired to do so many things! Taking charge of my life and letting things go are just a few. Over the weekend something very unfortunate happened to a fellow Christian friend and I felt inspired to once again take control of my life and be thankful for the things I have. So inspiration for me comes from just about everything, I think, at least it is now. Inspiration is the reason I started this blog. I wanted to inspire the people around me by sharing my voice, my opinions, and my life. Despite the ups and DOWNS I've had in the past few weeks I'm going to try my best to share them all with you because no matter what it's all about inspiration and we're all here to make a difference in someone's life (at least I think we are).

Comments Welcomed :)

One Short.... Summer

So this summer has went by like no other! My life was consumed with work, tv, my computer (which I watched TV on too), and Church. So with a week left at home I thought why not make a list of pictures to wrap up the "fun" of my summer so that you could all see what it was like! Enjoy :)



"Most of my time spent here!!"

























"Watched alot of TV and movies on Netflix :)"




"Now I did get to do two fun things this summer!! Grace and I saw Eclipse!! Stephanie came to visit me and we went to lunch! :) " (btw if you like Twilight check this website out, it cracks me up!!)


























"Of course I was listening to music this summer!! Wouldn't be me if I wasn't! So here are the most popular cd's burning on my iPod! Check them out! Sara Bareilles "King Of Anything" Should be every girls anthem! :) "








"Last but not least! Church!"

Stories :)

So I haven't been on here in awhile and I hadn't expected to be on here much this summer b/c my summer is pretty boring but I just wanted to share something that has been very encouraging to me since I've been home. So a lot of my friends have blogs, twitters, and facebook and we all use them for different reasons but I've had a few of those friends use those social networks to share wonderful stories and just encouraging words, scripture, quotes, etc with their friends who take out time to read them. I've learned that by sharing an encouraging story about your life or just posting a quote that made you happy for the day can actually encourage a friend you may not know is having a bad day. So I just wanted to thank those people who do put those encouraging words out there and just to say that someone is listening and reading. :)

Many Thanks...

So my stressful crunch at the end of this semester is over! Now all I gotta do is wait for exams! So the other night in the middle of all my stressful days, I got to thinking about the end (the end of the semester that is) and everyone going their separate ways. It seemed like just yesterday that everyone was moving in and trying to get together and spend time with one another but now it's starting to dwindle down because the end is indeed approaching. I was thinking the other night how I felt about this and I'm ok. That's what happens. It's that time of year where everybody has so much going on and thinking about so many other things that they don't have time to think about everyone as a whole. Everyone is growing up and we're all at different stages in our lives. So I'm ok to leave everyone behind and learn something exciting and new this summer, because when I get back in the fall everything exciting and new that they've learned they'll be telling me all about it (Grace via Skype, phone!!!) and I'll get to them all that I've learned too! Also this year I've learned alot that I didn't know about my friends and myself and man it's definitely made me stronger and made me realize that I need to reevaluate my life and priorities. It's been a roller coaster ride for sure this year but it wouldn't have been filled with ups without the help of the great friends that surround me all the time. So thanks to the wonderful girls of 420 and everyone else you know who you are ( ;) KT, Stephanie, Amanda, Michelle, Liz,...) who has made a difference in my life this year at school. I will forever be grateful!

Thank You!
I really appreciate you,
Your helpful, giving ways,
And how your generous heart
Your unselfishness displays.
I thank you for your kindness,
I will not soon forget;
You’re one of the nicest people
I have ever met.
By Joanna Fuchs

Comments Welcomed :)

Gravity

So as most of you know I gave up secular music for lent and it was a long 46 days. There were days that I thought I was definitely going to retreat back to my secular music because that was my escape. Just ask my roomie, who also gave up something for lent and knew kinda what I was going through, about the countless times I texted, called, whatever and said "I CAN'T DO IT!!! I just have to listen to this one song!!!" but sweet Melissa always said "Nope!!! You can do it!!! We only have x amount of weeks, days left!!! You don't have to listen!!!" So I didn't and I made it all the way through. So on April 4th at 1 a.m hahaha I listened to my first secular song in 46 days. I decided that I wanted it to be a surprise so after putting back all the music I had taken off my iPod I just hit shuffle and what played was John Mayer's War of My Life. Now when that played I was like what is that supposed to mean? But I think as this week began I saw what it was supposed to mean. So like I said earlier I tend to retreat to music as my escape. So when things are bad or if I just don't want to deal, I go to my music. Well Monday was not a good day for me! And it happened to be my first real day back with my music. And what did I do? Yep I let the music take me in. I went back to a place that I haven't been in 46 days! And I was mad at myself! That was my whole purpose of letting the music go and the only reason I allowed myself to put the music all back is because I thought I could handle it and I failed miserably. (Can you see the "War" taking place) Well I refused to have another day like Monday so on Tuesday I refused to have a bad day. So I didn't! I had the greatest day I've probably had my whole sophomore year and I can't wait to have more like them. So now you see why I was very apprehensive when that John Mayer song played. And yes maybe I am having a war in my life but the happy me is gonna win! But other than that listening to music has been great. On that first Sunday of my freedom I was able to ride back to school with my friend Ella and she and my friend Grace are really great about informing me about great, new music and keeping me current on music. I love riding back and forth to school with them because I feel like I've discovered so much more about music that I didn't know about. But this past Sunday since I've been away from the music scene for so long, Ella was trying to catch me up on the cool new hits that everybody's listening to on the radio these days. So we're just cruising down the highway, windows down and one song in particular really gets my attention. Well I ask Ella who sings it and she says The Script and I of course forget! Well when I get back to campus I'm sitting on my bed and I know that I have to remember that song and the only thing I remember is Falling to Pieces. So I google it! And of course The Script comes up and I remember what Ella had told me and I'm just so happy and I immediately go download the song (which is called Breakeven watch here) and haven't stopped listening to it since. I'm absolutely in love with this band. Their sound, the music, everything! It actually reminds me of how I felt about Gavin DeGraw, whose songs I haven't listened to any the whole way through yet (interesting, I know but I haven't quite figured that out yet)! But anyway I love music obviously and it was tough going that long without alot of the music I love and i'm glad to have it back but I also have to be careful and not let it get to me like it has in the past.



Comments Welcomed :)

You Need a Friend, Wonder Who'll Be Around?

"I'll Be There" - Jackson 5 (I'll Be There)
"You Need a Friend I'll Be Around"  -Gavin DeGraw (More Than Anyone) 

So over these past few weeks I've once again been tested with some friend stuff. So if you noticed the song lyrics up above (random I know) then you might know where I'm going with this. So the Jackson 5 song I just randomly heard at my friend Kathryn's house and then of course I gotta use Gavin, I was gonna use him first anyway, but I think they both really pertain to what I wanna talk about and that's friends and which friends are gonna be there for you in the end. I've learned in the last few weeks that people/friends change and continue growing with or without you and you have to be ready to accept that change even if you weren't expecting it. I've also learned that people/friends that you thought you knew aren't exactly who you thought they were and maybe aren't someone that you can be friends with anymore. Last thing I learned (I know!!! I learned alot in these past few weeks!!!) was that everybody has somebody that they can depend on, maybe me or whoever in their case  but I haven't exactly gotten their yet. I'm still working on letting myself let others help me but i'm trying. I'm also working on telling myself that there may not be one person on earth that I can depend on who is going to be there all the time when I need them (boy has that failed multiple times) but I do know that God is going to be there for me regardless the circumstance. So I guess i've learned some very hard lessons that have dug deep in the heart these past few weeks but they have only made me stronger and hopefully wiser!! And the biggest lesson I learned through all of this is that everybody is getting older and growing up in ways my brain can't even imagine and I guess I will have to continue to keep being encouraging and just allow them to grow the way God is wanting them to grow. And hope they allow me to grow as well. So with all this said it really got me to thinking about my friends. I hear that the college years are when you make your friends for life. So what do you do when friends from the past have changed, or when you don't see friends that you met freshman year anymore, or what about those friends who have just moved on and have other friends that they depend on? Who's going to be be there when YOU need a friend?

Comments Welcomed :) 

In My Head.......

So I've been thinking a lot about opening up to people about who I am and this is something that I think a lot of people need to know about me in order to understand me the most. I'm a introverted person! So I was looking around on the internet for a really good definition of introvert and I found an amazing one on About.com and it says the following:


Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."

When introverts want to be alone, it is not, by itself, a sign of depression. It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.

Being introspective, though, does not mean that an introvert never has conversations. However, those conversations are generally about ideas and concepts, not about what they consider the trivial matters of social small talk. (http://giftedkids.about.com/od/glossary/g/introvert.htm)

I see myself in all those aspects that they talked about in the article and I'm sure if you ask the people around me about my personality they would definitely be able to tell you some of the things that article just explained. So I hope that helps you understand a little more about me and my introverted personality.

Comments Welcomed :)

Just Up Over That Hill....

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

So over these past few weeks I have been talking, blogging, and just thinking alot about my future. Why is this? I have no idea, but today and just over the weekend I was talking to my friends about plans. These plans could mean future work plans, relationship plans, financial plans, and even plans on what we're going to eat for dinner tonight but just plans. So I've really been thinking alot about the plans that God has for me as I'm getting older and moving on through life. So when I look ten years into my life, I know that I'm going to be in the psychology career someway. I don't know how but I know I will be. I love listening and talking to people and essentially giving advice if they need it. I feel like God has giving me the tools to be able to take on such an emotional job because of struggles I've had and through things I've learned. Next I guess is relationships, when I look ten years down the road I don't see a relationship with anyone. This could be for two reasons I guess, one is the life that God has for me is just not going to be able to be fulfilled with someone in it. Second reason I guess could be that a relationship is to happen way later on in my life. But I'm pretty sure it's the first one. I think right now when I think about it I'm ok with that part of my life but I guess i'll have to see when I'm actually a bit older and everyone around me is getting married and having babies!! Next there is financial plans. I go to a university where kids who graduate here with a plan are going to go off and make alot of money. I'm not sure that is going to be me at all. I don't actually think to much about it either. I just know that God is going to provide what I need as best He can and if He has given me the desire for the job I want then He's going to take care of me. Now as far as my plans for dinner... Hmmm not fountain dining hall!!! hahaha!!! Now your plans may be extremely different from mine but I believe there are an infinite amount of plans that God has out there for everyone, we just have to let Him guide us on the right path.

Comments Welcomed :)

What A Man..... On The Wings Of Love.....

Sooooo....... If you know me, you all know that I was watching the Bachelor last night. And you also know that I WAS HIGHLY UPSET!!! So yes Mr. Jake, the man who was so sweet and just so cute and lovable, ends up picking Vienna (Muffin!!!!!). Definitely not my pick but I guess he saw something in her. So that got me to thinking. If a future mate is in the cards for me, then what do I want in them? This show has a man or woman on it; they go on this show with these ideas about who they want and they sift through 20 or so people to find their potential mate. But through the process that person changes and their beliefs and values potentially change (which is what I believe happened this season) which could lead them to choose someone who they necessarily wouldn't have chosen in the beginning. But that's tv!!! Let's talk real life!! So I'm 20!! Sophomore in College!! So that means I got two years to get my life together before it's real world time (I don't think mama's going to let me live with her forever). I know friends who are getting married and are only two years older than me. I know girls who are only a year or so older than me who are in serious relationships who are dating their boyfriends now to potentially marry them. So if this is the time for me to be thinking about those types of things then I need to be ready and to know what I want in a mate. I don't want to be like Jake who gets all conflicted in the end because he lets "physical" stuff get in the way of making a choice in the end. I want to know! So what is it that I would be looking for in my mate? Do I just want a smart, handsome, funny guy who loves music? NO! The women in my family haven't had the greatest luck with finding mates (sorry!!!) but it's so true and one of the many things my mom has told me is to pray pray pray for the man you want. And be specific!!! God says ask and He will listen. The worst that could happen is that He says no to some of the things you ask for but maybe it was for a good reason in the first place. So why not come up with a list of good qualities in a man that you want and ask for them!! Lets see hmmmm believer, loves Jesus, is honest, is faithful, is smart, funny, cute, plays piano, likes music.....

Comments Welcomed :)

40 Days and 40 Nights

So yesterday started this time called Lent. I had not participated in this time because I didn’t think it was anything that my church participated in and I didn’t know exactly what it was. Well yesterday night a popular church for some of the kids on campus held an Ash Wednesday service that explained what this time meant and what it was for. So one of the things I learned is that during this time of Lent you sacrifice something and give if up for 40 days and 40 nights. Some people give up food, candy, facebook, tv, etc. But as I sat through the service I knew immediately that this was something that I wanted to participate in and that I needed to give up something that is near and dear to my heart and that is music. Not all music but secular music. So that means no Gavin, no Jason, no John, no Marc, no Ashford (that’s for you Melissa ;) ). I know you’re reading this thinking how in the world is she going to survive!! I know I thought that too!! But I know that this is something I need to do because I know that I can get music to make me feel a certain way and it can get me in a certain mood even if I don’t want to feel that way. So I feel that this is something I have to do and that this is something God wants me to do. Now for people who chauffeur me around I can’t make you not listen to the music you want to so don’t feel like just because Jeneé’s riding around with me I have to listen to Christian music because that’s not what I’m trying to do. The point is for me to get away from the music I know that puts me in moods that I shouldn’t be in so your music might not be that music. But now if it happens to be any of the people listed above that might be a bad idea :) But my point in all of this is to really just find my purpose in God and to reconnect with Him in away that I haven’t been able to in awhile and I feel like this is going to be a big step in helping me. I’ve never had one non-secular song make me feel sad in anyway, it’s only made me feel and want to be closer to God and that’s what I want. Tonight at the campus ministry I attend one of the songs they sang just put all of this into perspective for me and I hope that you watch this link and just really take out time to really understand what the words mean for you. :) Comments Welcomed!!

Tainted Love...

Happy Valentine's Day to all the happy couples out there!! And shout out to all my single ladies hahahahah..

Anyway on to more important things... Tainted love. What is tainted love you ask? Well I think it's this idea of love that the media, books, music, poetry, etc gives us. Now if you know me I LOVE to read some Nicholas Sparks and boy does he know how to write a good love story, but is that truly going to happen to me. Nope! But it's great to wish and hope that. Then there's music I can't even decide who to choose but you all know who my favs are, but anyway you can't find many artist if any, who hasn't had a song out there about love. So what in the world am I supposed to think about love with a future mate. Are they gonna be able to sing and play piano for me, will I always be the only person they see as theirs? I don't know, I guess it's a risk I have to take but one thing I do know is that I have a love that it everlasting and that is the love of my Savior. So all those other things are just an added bonus and if He blesses me with those things then I will forever be grateful.

For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord. Psalm 117:2 (NIV)

Friends... Can't live with em'... Can't live without em'...

Tests are over finally…. Can’t change them…. So now on to better things!!!!

This week has been a interesting week, so when I had a chance to talk to people the topic of friendship tended to come up a lot . And in the last few months I’ve just been really tested as far as friendships go. So why not see what everybody else is thinking. So in one conversation with some friends we were talking about how it’s ok to only have a select few of friends that we can really call our close friends. Well this got me to thinking what separates friends vs. close friends? So I came up with some definitions that help me decide. Friends to me are those people who are in your life to make you happy and who are there to just support you in your decisions. A close friend in my definition is all the things that a friends is but more. I would consider this type of friend someone who you can go to during any hard trial in your life and they can offer support (not just supporting what you think but helping you look at all aspects of what’s going on in your life), they would also be someone, no matter what your faults and shortcomings are, their to only help you get passed those faults, etc and look on to the future. I also feel that it’s someone that no matter how awful you feel if something about them is bothering you (that is legit and you have reason and purpose behind the cause), you can go to them and you both try and figure out what the problem is and move past it. [You also need to be willing to accept them if they come to you with a problem too :) ]Also it’s someone you can be honest with and trust. So pretty much someone who’s gonna be their no matter what!! So as you have read this, I challenge you to come up with your own definitions of those two types of friends (because not everybody is going to think like me) but I challenge you to figure out who you can put into to those categories and who you can take out. :) Comments welcomed :)

Here Goes!!!

So for the last week or so i'm sure you've all heard "Is my life interesting enough to have a blog?" Well I've come to a decision. Is my life interesting I'm not so sure about that but thanks to everyone who said it was but is it not interesting I guess you'll have to be the judge of that. But one of my biggest factors in making this decisions was my friend Bella (hope it's ok that I used your name) but I asked her the same question that I asked everybody and I was assuming that since all my other really good friends said "of course your life is interesting" that she would say it to but nope she surprised me she said "uhhh I have no idea. if you think you have something to say you should blog about it." That really got me to thinking it doesn't matter if my life is interesting or not it's just all about what I have to say and if I have something on my mind then why not share it with all my friends. So i'm not going to blog about what i'm eating everyday or just my daily routines, I'm going to blog about my life and it's meaning and how I'm growing up everyday.