14 Day Challenge, Day 7: Non-Critical of Actions or Circumstances

While talking with a friend of mine today, the topic of dating came up. We have some minor differences of opinion on the subject, and I noticed I had been critical of his opinion and approach. I apologized to him and decided to spend more time listening and less time thinking while we continued to talk.

I am grateful for a reminder to be non-critical of someone's actions, or opinions.

14 Day Challenge, Day 6: Forgiving Someone

Today's challenge was to forgive someone who wronged you. Gosh, this is a challenge for me because I feel like with regards to each person I may have been wronged by, I have moved on. I don't feel resentful about any of them, especially since any such wrongs happened years ago.

So, who did I forgive? As has been the case for me (it may have been different for you), I noticed the need to forgive myself. I felt very sorry for some of the mistakes I've made today, and I have a habit of apologizing more often than I need to. So, I forgive myself, and I will move on by going to bed tonight to start a new day tomorrow.

I am grateful for the peace of mind that comes from forgiving someone, and knowing you are forgiven by God.

14 Day Chellenge, Day 5: Through Another's Viewpoint

Today's challenge was to see a situation through another person's viewpoint. Tonight, I had a date and I knew I would be getting back late to my apartment. I got a text from my roommate, in which he asked when I'd be back at the apartment. I wondered why he asked that, and when I arrived at about 12:15am I asked him. He said he wanted to see me arrive and ask how my date went.

Why would he do that? I realize it was because he cares, because he sees me as a good friend and wanted to hear an update on my adventures. Noticing this viewpoint allows me to realize just how much our friendship means to my friend/roommate. The situation was that I was arriving late at our apartment. I was tired. He was eager to hear from me. Two different perspectives. 

I am grateful for the different viewpoint my roommate/friend had when I came back to our apartment after midnight.

14-Day Challenge, Day 4: Avoiding Catagorization

Today's challenge was to avoid the tendency to categorize people. I didn't think I did that very often, but I found myself doing that a bit during a social dance competition tonight. There were beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of competition. My dance partner and I had so much fun at this informal competition. Even so, I sometimes categorized myself and the other beginners as seperate from the more experienced dancers.

This changed when I noticed several people who were in my beginner section for Latin dance, but later competed in more advanced levels for ballroom dances. When it came down to it, we were all just a large group of people who love social, Latin, and ballroom dance. Some were more experienced than others, but we were all much more similar than different.

I am grateful for an exciting dance competition that avoided strict categorization of people.

14-Day Challenge, Day 3: Looking Beyond Looks

I'm taking a couple of dance classes this semester, just for fun. In these classes today, students dressed up to practice for an upcoming competition. We watched each other dance and talked about what looked good and what didn't. During this time, I looked beyond looks, in a way.

Some people were more dressed up and looked nicer than others. Then the music started and the dancing soon followed. My eye was no longer drawn to the most attractive or dressed up dancers. I paid more attention to those who smiled and looked like they were having a great time. It is interesting how easy it is to learn how to dance while at the same time forgetting how to enjoy the dance. The most beautiful and handsome people in a dance competition are those who work hard on the dance steps and techniques while smiling and enjoying every minute of it. A good way to look at life, I think.

I am grateful I could look beyond appearances at a dance practice today.

14-Day Challenge, Day 2: Shortcomings

Today's challenge was to overlook someone's shortcomings. Throughout the day, the only person on which I really noticed shortcomings was myself. Of course I know no one's perfect, but I just didn't notice things that I should overlook. If anything, it was a bit of a challenge to overlook my own imperfections. examples included arriving late for work, procrastinating a paper, and eating an unhealthy dinner. But, in spite of all that, I am still confident in my capacity to become better tomorrow than I was today.

I am grateful that I was able to overlook my own shortcomings today. Not ignore them, but let them pass without dwelling on them.

14-Day Challenge: Patience

I decided to take this challenge for the next two weeks. I consider myself a considerate and compassionate person, but I know I can improve. Perhaps focusing on something I think I'm good at will draw attention to when I'm actually not good at it.

Anyway, today's challenge was to show patience with someone. I played an intense escape-the-room game with a bunch of friends. We all got quite invested in it, and at times we got really frustrated. In such times, it is easy for me to lose patience, because it's just a game, right? I decided to keep my cool, and when I felt frustrated I just calmly asked questions and did my part. We got out and solved the puzzles!

I am grateful for this 14-day challenge to love one another, and for the opportunity I had to show more patience in a stressful yet rewarding game.