3 Reasons Why You Should Stop Complaining and Change Your Life

Sorry I've been such a bad blogger this week, friends. Sundays are shaping up to be really busy days already. I won't have time to post, so I've decided to post on Mondays instead. Not that many of you probably care.

But on to today's post!

3 Reasons Why You Should Stop Complaining and Change Your Life

1. I don't like hearing you complain about it all the time.

I know this one is a bit hypocritical since we all know I'm the Queen of Complaining.

But seriously. I know a bunch of people who have complained about how they hate X, Y, or Z about their life and AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

If it really bothers you that much? Do something about it.

Hate your major? Change it.

Hate your job? Look for a new one.

Hate your city? Move.

I don't care what you do, just make it so you're not constantly telling me about how much you hate your life.

2. Life is too short.

This is a big one. Life is too short to be living in a city you hate or working a job you despise.

Find something you love and go do it.

3. It'll make you happy.

Seriously. Who doesn't want to be happy in life? Silly people, that's who. And none of you seem like silly people to me, friends.

Disclaimer: I never said any of this would be easy.

Here in America, especially, we've become lazy. We think things should just be easy, and if it's difficult, it's not worth doing.

That is so unbelievably false. Sometimes the most difficult things to accomplish are the most worthwhile.

You might have to search a while to find a job you love. You might have to work more to save money to move. You might actually have to put a little effort into your life instead of sitting on your ass.

But if you can get over this belief nowadays that things should be easy, then you just might change your life. And it could be awesome.

I'm really just avoiding all the packing I have to do.

If you're planning on moving, especially over a considerable distance like, say, across a state, here are some things you probably shouldn't do.

1. Wait until the week you're moving to start packing.

Seriously, guys. I have a ton a crap in my place. And by "crap" I mean stuff that I've been hoarding since college and haven't gotten rid of. This includes but is not limited to: old calendars, certain textbooks relating to either of my majors, certain notebooks from random classes, bills, letters, cards, etc.

I'd post you a picture of the way my room looks right now, but it would just terrify you. I don't want to give you nightmares.

2. Hang out with your roommate when you should be packing instead.

I'm not sorry for this one. It was fun. But I will mention that before you hang out with friends maybe you should have more than one box packed. Maybe.

3. Write a post on your blog when you should be packing instead.

Are you sensing a procrastination theme yet?

4. Have a bunch of clothes you don't wear.

See? Not procrastinating.

This one is a big one. I get the distinct feeling that when I go through my closet, I'm going to be throwing out a lot of clothes. Or hoarding a ton of college t-shirts. One of the two.

5. Have a tiny car.

My car is named Dana. She is small. You can read about her here. My dad is helping me move, but I will mention that it might be easier for you if you have a larger car than I do. Just saying.

Here are a couple of things that you can do if you find yourself a week away from moving and freaking out about it:

1. Find people to take your stuff. 

Have a garage sale. Donate it to a thrift store. The less stuff you have around that you don't use, the better. Just get rid of it.

2. MAKE A LIST

If you've been following along at home, you know that I think lists are pretty much the greatest organizational tool ever. If not, go read here. And here.

That's my list. It has checkboxes and everything! That's the best part about lists! Being able to cross something off when you've done it. As you can see, I've got a lot of empty checkboxes. So I'm going to stop dawdling and go do stuff.

How about it, friends? Any moving tips for me this week?

Good Riddance. (I didn't have the time of my life.)

So this is the week when bloggers post their end of year recap posts. What they loved and hated about the year, what they're looking forward to in the coming year.

I don't even know where to start.

2011 was...interesting.

Let's examine the pros and cons, shall we? Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

You want the good news first, don't you? Yep.

Pros of 2011

• I discovered Spotify. Seriously, if you aren't using Spotify yet, I feel sad for you.
• We all discovered that I can be really judgmental, via my short-lived blog series "Why Wednesday." It has it's own tab up top. Wait...maybe this should be on the "cons" list...
• We also discovered that occasionally I can write good fiction. I posted some here, which you can find on the tab up there labeled "Stuff I Made Up."
• I learned that I will never be able to understand just how deep and endless God's love for me is. 
• Sometimes God leads us into the desert, to teach us things, to get us to rely on him. (This feels like a bad thing to me, but I know that it really is good, in the end.)
• I attempted NaNoWriMo. I failed, but I still tried!
• I got hired at Starbucks! That green apron is an instant "cool" stamp. 
• I became an aunt again, and a great-aunt for the first time! That makes a grand total of 7 nieces, 1 nephew and 1 great-nephew!

Cons of 2011

• I decided I don't want to be living in Branson anymore.
• Next month means I've been living here for two years.
• My grandfather died last May, of cancer. I still miss him so much.
•  I have NO IDEA what I'm supposed to do next. I feel pretty lost right now.
• This cons list is short. 

It doesn't feel like 2011 had more pros than cons. I'm just done with it. I'm nervous about what the future will hold, but I want it to get here. Pronto. 

"For I know the plans I have for you..."

Do you ever feel like you're sleeping, and can't wake up?

Or like you're a much cooler person than the life you're living?

I feel like that every day. I feel like my life has halted to a stop, like I'm waiting for something to happen, for the good part to get here.

I just need to do something, anything to wake me up. I'm afraid that one day, years from now, I'll wake up and wonder where the hell my life went.

I have problems with comparing myself to other people. One person, in particular. I look at this person's life, and it's everything I'm supposed to want. (And in my stupid mind, have already.) Young, beautiful, married, kids, a career. I'm 24 years old, a year out of college with no career path, and I'm alone.

It's difficult for me to not compare myself with others, to tell myself that God has awesome plans for me that I can't even dream of. But I can't help wondering when my life is actually going to start.