A Whole Drawer of Thoughts

I have a riddle for you... What do exercise plans, new marriages, and guitar lessons all have in common?

They always get worse before they get better. Day two of a new workout, your muscles feel like you were hit by a bus. First months of marriage? Fights, misunderstandings, miscommunication. And swollen, bloody fingers accompany guitar lessons.

But over time... what happens? Strong muscles, beautiful harmony, and melodic tunes.

I think God purposefully allows truly great things to come only by struggle. As humans, we would be too ignorant to cherish them fully if they could be accomplished with zip effort. That being said, I think you know where this is going.

Last night and today were tough. Whiteheads aplenty, I stared fitfully at the mirror.

The picture really doesn't do the struggle justice. I have never just let whiteheads go without popping them!

For me, going to work today with pimples was like going to work with no shirt on. Even with makeup, it was all I could think about.

But while I was driving home, I remembered an idea from a dear friend of mine who was struggling with distracting thoughts one day. She said she simply closed her eyes and imagined a lovely dresser. Each drawer was labeled with a specific train of thought. She simply opened the drawer she was struggling with, put her thoughts inside, and shut the drawer. She then walked away clear of mind.

The mind is a place of war, and we oughtn't deal with it lackadaisically. I long for my mind to be full of the thoughts of Christ. King David said, "I meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word."

Oh that I may do the same always.

In a Big Pick-le

And so begins the first challenge... which begins with a truth.

I have struggled with an obsessive-compulsive addiction called "picking" for about seven years now. This horrid habit has resulted in uncontrollable acne which I feign to cover every morning with an astonishingly long makeup routine that requires numerous touch-ups throughout the day.

Bottom line, I'm sick of it.

Throughout these seven years, I've tried countless products, visited dermatologists, and even gone to therapy. Despite all my efforts, the the only attempt that has worked is public humiliation. While living in South Asia one semester, I went two full weeks without makeup, and I completely quit picking! But it returned about the time the makeup returned.

So here is attempt Numero Dos.

For 30 days, I am going to attempt to not pick a single time, in hopes of eradicating this destructive habit. In the meantime, I will post photos of my progress! My goal is to go somewhere in public with no makeup at the end of the 30 days.

Ready?

This morning, sans makeup!

                                               
                                                     And ready for the day :)

Part of my challenge is to also use natural products, as my skin is UBER sensitive! Many acne products I have used before caused more damage than good. Although organic products do come with a steep price, they are so worth it for sensitive skin.

Right now, I am using the Yes to Carrots brand, whose acne line is Yes to Tomatoes. Since my local Walgreens does not carry their spot treatment, I am using a Burt's Bees ance spot treatment.

I'm excited to share my triumphs, failures, and discoveries along the way!

Slightly hippy

Honest to Goodness.

The title of my blog bears two meanings. The first of course refers to the coloquial phrase commonly used in the South referring to complete and utter truth. The second meaning describes a transformation, beginning with honesty and taking a journey to arrive at goodness.

I know, this sounds rather metaphorical and slightly hippy-dippy-trippy. And perhaps I am, but I'm quite all right with that.

To put it in layman's terms, we all have issues. Some major, some minor. Many of us face personal battles that would rival the Cold War. My goal in this blog is to honestly reveal truth, and approach it creatively, naturally, and spiritually. My hope is for goodness to result in all matters.

I plan to embark on challenges, explore ideas, and discover the wonders of living life to the fullest as God intended.

If you're up for the journey, feel free to follow along and even join in on the fun.