Here's to New Adventures

Ahh...summertime 😊. A time when people are on break from school and college, going on vacation, getting caught up on things they haven't done yet or simply soaking up the sun. For some, it may be your favorite season. For others, maybe not so much. I love summers for the break and beach days. My favorite season however is spring. I love the weather! But, I also love that new life blooms in spring. To me, it symbolizes new hope and new beginnings. In any season, new beginnings can happen though😊. With thinking about new beginnings, I want to talk to you today about adventures. When we look at the definition of adventure, it is defined as an exciting experience that is usually bold and even risky. In researching online for activities that can be considered adventures, I saw traveling, sky diving, mountain climbing, exploring and scuba diving among others. These are definitely activities that involve being bold and taking risks. Some of you may have done some, all or none of these activities before. I have traveled before and looking to do more in the future because I have loved what I have experienced so far 💖. What about the every day moments? What about taking risks when it comes to trying a new food item or restaurant, visiting a new local attraction or building new relationships? Could we also consider those adventures as well? After all, they involve doing something bold and exciting that we have never done before. They involve going out of one's comfort zone to an extent. I want to encourage and challenge us to look at every day moments from a different perspective. It's a challenge I have taken on recently and I love it 💕!! Every day, we have the chance to do something new and different that we have never done before. Let me share with you a few of my recent adventures. In May at the nail salon, I started getting more than one nail color for my manicures. I used to always get the same color on both hands. I was being adventurous with getting two different nail colors on the same hand. I love it now and I'm not going back! In the month of June, I attended two birthday celebrations- mine and my Aunt's 🙌!! For both celebrations, I went to new restaurants I had never been to before. For my birthday, I went to Texas Roadhouse with friends and family and enjoyed delicious food and time with my people (I know- I was out missing before that 😀!) For my Aunt's birthday, I went to Virginia Grill with family, which had beautiful scenery of the hills of a golf course behind the restaurant. Once again, I enjoyed delicious food and time with my people. Both celebrations were so much fun with lots of laughs and pictures! Side note: if you ever hang out with me and my family, just know pictures will be taken at some point 😉😊. The same day of my Aunt's birthday celebration, I got my hair done earlier at the salon and got a new style I had never gotten before. It was a flat twist and braid combination. I'm glad I did because I love it 💗!! Also, in June, I went to a new movie theater I had never been to. It was very nice and I will definitely be going to see more movies there 😀. This month of July, I had to take my last teacher test for full certification in multiple subjects. It was my Math test. Now Math is not my strong subject, but I have gotten better over time. I had took the test two times before and didn't pass. When it came to studying this time, I took a new approach and took a bold move in practicing problems off a website that my students use. I don't know if I would call it an adventure, but I did start viewing it as a challenge that I was going to overcome. Well, I am happy to announce that I did pass the test on this third attempt and got 26 points more than the score I needed! So grateful 🙌!! I went to the beach the next day and spent time with my cousin and friend 💖. That was a fun adventure and even more special because I (and they did too!)  knew the day before I had gotten the unofficial score that I passed that test (that score ended up being the official too!). You see, new adventures can be big or small. It can be going to a new restaurant or ordering something different at a familiar restaurant. It could be changing up your look or taking up a new class or hobby. It could be listening to a new music artist or genre of music you wouldn't normally listen to. It could be meeting new people or traveling to a new place. I'm learning more and more to embrace the new opportunities that come my way and that help me grow as a person 😊. As you take on adventures, you may respond in one of these ways: " I don't want to do that again, but at least I tried." , "I made it through!", "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be" or "That was the best thing ever- I loved it!" Whatever category your response falls in is alright because they all share the fact that you experienced something new and different. You made sure not to miss out on a moment to enjoy life 💕.  In the Scriptures in Ephesians 5:15-16, it says, "Pay close attention, then, to how you live- not as unwise people but as wise- making the most of the time, because the days are evil."  We don't know when it will be our last time to spend with family and friends and see the world around us. Take a close look at who and what is around you. Turn that ice cream outing, walk at the beach, park time, dinner date into an adventure. So will you join me? Will you join me in the challenge to enjoy life and make every day an adventure? Remember it can be big or small- it all counts! Here's to new adventures 💖😊!!