Stop.

Stop searching Pinterest quotes that feed into your insecurities.

Stop watching movies with main characters that have the same mental health issues you think you do.

Stop over-processing and obsessing over what everyone else would think if they knew everything about you.

Stop being so obsessed with what is wrong with your life, and letting it pass you by.

Stop doing what I did for much too long.

Recently I went on a short-term missions trip to Tanzania, Africa, and for lack of better or more creative words, it changed my life. While I was in Tanzania, there was one thing that I noticed was very consistent. Regardless of lack, or illness, or wealth, or pain – everyone expressed joy and gratitude.

I found out that it is only proper in Tanzanian culture to act as if all is well. They view tears as weakness and do not believe in becoming vulnerable with anyone at all unless they are particularly close to you. But I also found out that they are not always “pretending”. From what I gathered in my conversations with some of the natives, they put a much larger weight on the blessings of life, and not so much what they are lacking. They see their opportunities as just that -- opportunities. Not rights or obligations. They don't put so much stress on time or schedules or the way things “should be."

Do I believe that we should always pretend like everything is okay and avoid being vulnerable?

No way.

But do I believe that there needs to be a balance, and we should take time to live life and be grateful for what we do have, regardless of everything else that is going on?

Absolutely.

While I was in Tanzania, I learned to put away the journal. Put away the internet. Put away the obsessive thoughts (as best I could), and the routine. And I picked up something in return...

I picked up a new found freedom.I gained a freedom from the pressure of social media. A freedom from feeling obligated to keep up an impossible standard. A freedom to just be who I am.

I decided to stop worrying so much about figuring out my life, and just start living it.

And I am so happy that I did.

Life is a beautiful thing when you stop pointing out its flaws and imperfections.

So as a friend, I ask you to do this for yourself. Stop allowing yourself to get so distracted by what's wrong that you can't see the beautiful thing right in front of you.

Look around, take a breath, and decide that today is the day you stop what has become the ordinary, and start being a little freer.

Until next time,

Anna