Let me just tell you
my life isn't perfect.
and I'm not either.
and I'm not either.
Nope,
not even close.
not even close.
I have bad days, clumsy awkward moments, stressful weeks, and more flaws than I care to count.
When blogging, I sometimes seem to sugar-coat my life. I leave out the difficult times, the ugly truths. Because a little voice inside of me is saying,
no, no, don't post that. no one wants to hear about your problems, your weaknesses.
But you know what, some days, weeks, months, are hard. There are days when I feel like every little thing is going wrong, turning upside down.
Like last week for example. I ruined my favorite shirt, hurt my foot, Fell up the stairs (now that takes serious skill), my room flooded a little, and I hurt my back when I fell out of a hammock (knocked the wind out of me).
Not that any of those things are incredibly life threatening, but it's just stuff that can make a day, a week go badly.
Like last week for example. I ruined my favorite shirt, hurt my foot, Fell up the stairs (now that takes serious skill), my room flooded a little, and I hurt my back when I fell out of a hammock (knocked the wind out of me).
Not that any of those things are incredibly life threatening, but it's just stuff that can make a day, a week go badly.
I love what one of my favorite bloggers, Hannah Nicole said about this issue,
"It's easier to slap on a smile, put up a pretty photo, write a few words, and be done. Easy to blog a session or write about what is good, instead of what is hard. Easy to put on a face and skim the surface instead of being real and honest and raw. Easy to make it seem like my life is less than messy, more like a picture perfect magazine rather than being filled with grittiness and real things like staying up too late working and getting behind on deadlines and being insecure."
That quote is just so true, too true I'm afraid.
Goodness. We wear so many masks. Piling them atop our faces covering up our feelings, our true hopes and dreams. One facade after another. And before we know it, we no longer see or know who we really are. Who we were. Suffocating in the trap we created for ourselves.
I'm going to do a "truth is" thingamajig with actual truth in it.
Sometimes the truth isn't pretty, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be shared, to be heard.
Truth is,
There are some days and weeks where I forget to read my bible, even pray.
I secretly compare myself to others.
I secretly compare myself to others.
I'm dreadfully afraid of what the future holds. The unknown is scary to me.
I don't have as many friends as you might think. I have a few friends (more like acquaintances) but I've never found a true best friend, a kindred spirit.
I hate watching the news because with every sad story they talk about, every death, I carry it all on
my shoulders, and it never leaves my mind.
I hate watching the news because with every sad story they talk about, every death, I carry it all on
my shoulders, and it never leaves my mind.
I never feel like my drawings, paintings, and blog deigns are quite right. Never good enough.
I haven't been reading, writing, and commenting as much as I used to.
Sometimes I eat because it's comforting, not because I'm hungry.
I'm incredibly nervous to start my own business.
I'm so good at being fake that it scares me.
I'm sensitive. Even though I never try to show it. Mean words cut deeper than they ever should for me and their ache lingers on and on.
It's not like any of those truths are what people think are horribly bad, but they are my weakness and places I need to work on, to let God work on.
Sometimes I eat because it's comforting, not because I'm hungry.
I'm incredibly nervous to start my own business.
I'm so good at being fake that it scares me.
I'm sensitive. Even though I never try to show it. Mean words cut deeper than they ever should for me and their ache lingers on and on.
It's not like any of those truths are what people think are horribly bad, but they are my weakness and places I need to work on, to let God work on.
Now, my friends, I challenge you to be more truthful when you post. To share lives beautiful moments and the more difficult ones. Instead of pretending like everything's okay, let's lean on each other as friends do. Let's share our struggles, our fears and help each other through. I challenge you to be honest, to be raw, to be brave. I dare you to be you. Will you join me?
I love your heart Eve - and I feel what you feel that you're feeling. (if that makes sense!) I'm pretty sure everyone can relate to eating-food-for-comfort (peanut butter bread with peanuts on top. please stop.)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, because most of the irky things in life are really stupid in comparison to chronic illness and that kind of stuff. But I know we all carry our own burdens. For some people it's easier than others - but who cares. . .everyone needs love, everyone has bad days, and everyone (usually) is their worst critic.
(For the record, I actually do love your raw style of writing and your blog isn't ugly - so don't sweat about that.)
Thank you for posting. I feel what your wrote 100%.
P.s. Watch the new Cinderella - it will make you happy. And you'll want a pet mouse. :)
Thank you so much, Bethany! I know, right?! Thanks again! <3
DeleteI truly want to watch that! It looks so awesome!
I find it very challenging to take the time to read my bible with the crazy schedule I have. But know that God has your best interest at heart. Is be honored to join you and being more truthful about what I post. :)
ReplyDelete~Racic || Washed by the Water
Ah, yes. It is really hard. Thanks, Racic! <3
DeleteOh, this is so good. It's so hard to be real and honest as bloggers, but I do agree that it's important to try. You've inspired me to start working on this! Thanks, Eve.
ReplyDeleteThank you so so much, Hannah! <3 <3
DeleteSo. true. It's really easy to leave out the not-so-pretty things in my blog, the things that are hard to write about, the things I don't want anyone else to see.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honesty. I often have the same thoughts; "No one wants to hear about this." I think. But when I see other people being honest it gives me courage to be more 'real' in the blogging world.
Thanks for the inspiration and the good reminder :)
Thank you, Jana. :)
DeleteTrue, true; I'm not perfect or have this amazing lifestyle. A lot of people don't know the problems I face outside of blogging, and since I have never really posted a photo of myself on my blog, readers don't realize that I'm very tired with dark circles under my eyes because I'm always helping people and rarely really ever doing things for my pleasure. Nethertheless, I think I should try to be a bit more authentic and raw, even if it may seem rough. Thank you for this. <3
ReplyDeletexoxo Morning
I know exactly how your feeling, Morning. It is so easy to sink into the state of mind that readers only want to hear about good days, about perfect lives, but the is reality we all want to know that we are not alone in our flaw and our struggles. Thank you so much, Morning! <3
DeleteEveeeeeeeee. You have so, so much wisdom. <3
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of funny that you say that you don't like your writing or all of those things, but then all I want to do is comfort you....Also while I say I don't like my writing. ;-)
Here's to being honest and raw. *high five*
Thank you, Candence! As do you, my friend. <3
DeleteHehe, yeah. ;) I think your writing is absolutely amazing btw! :)
Wow. That was powerful and very very true. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Clara. <3
DeleteI needed this so much.
ReplyDeleteYou are so very wise, dear friend, and the Lord never ceases to use your words! Thank you for being brave enough to be raw and truthful.
xoxo
Thanks, Adelaide! Thank you so, so, so much! <3
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this, Eve, and for being so honest. This is beautiful. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Emily! Thank you. <3
DeleteThis. This is the real stuff, the stuff people actually (whether they know it or not) want to hear and read. Because everyone wants to know that they aren't alone in feeling messed up, but they also want to know that there is beauty in not being perfect, but resting in God's perfection! Thanks for sharing and inspiring me to think humbly and in realness.
ReplyDeleteHannah with http://graceineverything.blogspot.com/
Oh goodness. <3 <3 Thank you, Hannah!! <3 <3 <3
DeleteThanks for reading, and I'm so happy that you found this inspiring. :)
Amen. Eve, you have a wonderful gift of reaching people through this blog-- whether you are talking about the ups or the downs of your life. I love the connection you have with everyone who reads your blog. Its lovely. Your honesty is one of the sweetest things ever. I love to read posts like this, the true, nitty gritty life posts that help encourage others to know that no one is perfect. Reading scripture can be one of the hardest struggles on the planet, and recognizing this is almost just as hard. Thank you for your beautiful post, and wonderful photographs to accompany it! And never forget, no matter the design on this blog, your posts will always be more important to your true blog readers!
ReplyDelete~Katrina
Thank you, Katrina! Oh my, after reading your beautiful comment, I almost cried tears of joy! Thanks again! <3 <3 <3
DeleteThank you for writing this and for being so real. I was surprised to find that I related to pretty much everything in your "truth is" thingamajig! It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with issues like these. :) I am a fairly new blogger, so I want to begin right and join you in being more real as I blog. Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Katherine
http://notionsofnotes.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much! I'm so glad. <3
Deletep.s. Loooveee your blog!
This is beautiful, Eve. You've honestly encouraged me to post more about me, the real me, not just the shy girl who barely types on her blog. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSoph.xx
Thank you, Sophia. :) It encourages me to know that you got some encouragement in this post (if that makes any sense;)). <3 <3
DeleteThis is beautiful...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jollygirl! That is so nice of you to say. :D
DeleteEve, Eve, Eve. your honesty and beautiful words are exactly what i've been thinking about lately. it's so easy to forget. so easy to think others are so great. i don't think we are that much different because every line, ever word, every paragraph and sentence i connected to and related to very deeply. i don't think there is much more i can say right now except thank you for writing this and i agree.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Abigail! Oooh, I think I may have found my kindred spirit! <3 Your words do the exact same thing to me! Thanks again. :D
DeleteWow! This most is so true, I am amazed, and I completely agree. I worry lots, I cry inside, I don't have many friends, and I could go on!
ReplyDeleteThis was a really inspirational post!
- Lexie
www.whatlexieloves.blogspot.com
I haven't been online as much lately and I just read this post. Seriously, I could make each and every one of those "confessions" that you just made. In fact, I've been struggling with some of them a lot lately - especially the ones about being overly sensitive and the fact that I've never had a "kindred spirit" or bestie either. I actually just wrote about it on my blog, but I almost didn't post it because I felt like people would think it was dumb or that I was too sensitive and annoying. I know I'm commenting on this really late, but I just wanted to let you know that this post made me cry - in a good way - because maybe I'm not quite as alone in all of this as it seems.
ReplyDeleteStay lovely dear. <3