It’s not always words that influence us. Sometimes it’s a pair of fuzzy cow slippers.
3 Lessons of Influence
Lessons in 5 Senses
Two weeks of lessons came down to the five senses... one of them being the importance of taste, and a replacement for the overused lemon and lemonade analogy. May I humbly submit one about beer and brats.
Lessons on Cupcakes and Timing
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. I'm not sure how it's already mid February. But in the midst of the wind and rain and the snow and the 50 degree weather turned blizzard I took time to reflect... and there are a lot of lessons in the midst of cupcakes.
5 Lessons: Self Esteem Edition
This week I got bit by a mosquito, got carded for beer (it wasn’t Natty Light), and wore high heels more than once. A few observations led me to the conclusion that improving our self-esteem is more in our control than we realize. 1. Get carded. This is best achieved with your hair in a... Continue Reading →
Lessons: I-39 Style
Don't forget to observe the life you're in and the moment that you're in it. Turn off the radio, the TV, the screen and let your five senses do the rest. Take mental notes of the lessons God is teaching you in small moments, even on a long car ride in the early morning.
Lessons: prep and reflect
If I pause and reflect daily, I might get an inaccurate representation of how things are going. A bad day could feel like the world is falling apart. One good day could give me an inflated sense of self and delusional success. But a friend reminded me that reflecting at the end of every week... Continue Reading →
Lessons: Road Trip Edition
Font size is important, but so is the 3 second rule, the scan button on the radio, air conditioning, and the messages you choose to share.
Two Weeks of Lessons
Every day God is trying to teach me something. The question is whether or not I’m paying enough attention to notice it, reflect on it, and do something with it. The past two weeks a few new things came to light: serrated knives and fingertips don’t go well together, water is more important than coffee... Continue Reading →
My Top 9: Week 3
People say the devil is in the details. I disagree. Beauty is in the details. Insight is in the details. God is in the details. So this week I cut down my list from 20 to 9 and I went deeper.
my feet
Today I am thankful for... my feet. And the grass I was able to walk on. And the memories of jumping, of grandparents, of all that has been gifted to me.
you’re the one
You’re the one the world has been waiting for. In the rain. In the sun. Take the chance. Make the move. God gave you a purpose. Love.
the we
I tried writing so many times today and nothing stuck. It felt like a ramble of so many disconnected thoughts. Until one photo, with one post, from an old friend, reminded me of how powerful words can be.
I wanted to hug her
It was my birthday. I wanted to hug her. We awkwardly stood 6 feet apart and smiled. It will be normal again. We will hug again. Until then, I’ll keep coming back.
sometimes
most times social media ruins me. annihilates me. into a spiral of zombie behavior and destructive comparison. but sometimes it makes me cry in a good way. a healthy way. that reminds me of humanity and love and strength and compassion. That reminds me not everyone is selfish and self centered and tone deaf. Not... Continue Reading →
influence
You don’t get to decide what will or won’t leave an impression on someone else. You don’t get to decide what will or won’t leave an impression on you. You do get to decide whether to care. Whether to try. Whether to be better.
clutter
Today I am thankful for... clutter My home office had devolved into a life size junk drawer. It became the destination for random pieces of paper, bills, boxes, cards, decorations, pictures, notes, "ooh I should save this" type items I couldn't be bothered to better assess in the moment. And so the piles grew and... Continue Reading →
no filter
I wanted to use a filter. To brighten the shadows, bump up the contrast, enhance the saturation. I wanted to click edit and adjust the tint on my face to better match the lack of color on my neck. To shrink my nose. To make my eyes more blue and my face more smooth. I wanted... Continue Reading →
i hope
I love (understatement) the food at Epiphany Farms restaurant in town. They switch the menu every season based on what is fresh at their farm. I never want to look at the menu. I just order the multi course tasting menu and ask the waiter to tell me nothing about it. You could call that... Continue Reading →
dramatic lighting
I am thankful. It's been a rough 2-3 weeks for me. But today I find myself looking out the window and genuinely smiling. Not much has changed in my circumstances honestly, so why the smile? I can see colors. It sounds silly, but looking at the pond and the trees and the sky I realized... Continue Reading →
suns out
Note: Attempting to take a bicep selfie at work is highly awkward, I do not recommend it... But as the saying goes, suns out guns out so here we are. The sun is up and it's a new day, a new gift I get to decide what to do with. Will I recoil in fear... Continue Reading →
distracting opportunities
I have a love hate relationship with doing the dishes. On one hand, I'm super grateful I have dishes and food and a kitchen and a home at all. On the other hand, it's a time consuming chore that leaves my hands dry and raw. I finally understand what that Palmolive lady was talking about... Continue Reading →
walk alongside
I've heard it said a few times that you become a reflection of the five people you spend the most time with. So if you want to become more kind, patient, loving, giving... it seems logical that we should ask whether the people we surround ourselves with exhibit those qualities or not. We walk through... Continue Reading →
positive voice
I couldn't get the phrase "build each other up" out of my head. So I just let myself start to write. I read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 a few times and kept writing. There is a lot of noise and a lot of silence in the world. A lot of criticism and cynicism and jump to... Continue Reading →
leave joy
When wet grass is mowed, the lines are so obvious, marking where you've been, where you turned, stopped... went back. Honestly you made quite the mess of ruts and mud and its obvious. You have an entire day ahead of you and I have an entire day ahead of me. We can both choose not... Continue Reading →
your path
There are days I want to be antisocial. I want to escape into a little spot of solitude and just be. But if I all I do is go from one extreme of running around from meeting to meeting to errand to event... to the other extreme of solitude I'm missing the best part of... Continue Reading →
listen understand
"Listen." Over and over again this morning the word that kept popping into my heart was "listen." On the surface that can seem so passive, especially if you're in a crowded meeting room and you keep wondering why that one person (or no person) is talking. But "listen" is a verb. It implies you are... Continue Reading →
super powers
I always thought it would be awesome to be a super hero. I always wanted the ability to fly. Or to swim underwater without ever having to take a breath. Turns out we each have the same set of super powers. The ability to make people laugh, or cry, or fear. The way we talk... Continue Reading →
joyful timing
In some situations waiting is easier now that I have a smart phone to keep me distracted. But that doesn't work for everything. I can't make my hair grow faster, or snap my fingers and give my single friends the husbands they long for. I have to wait for those struggling through addictions to find... Continue Reading →
make your mark
My husband doesn't like when I wear lipstick. Not only does he dislike the texture when he kisses me, but more often than not, it leaves a mark. I don't blame him, he's not the one who chose to wear lipstick (thankfully) and yet my choice leaves a mark on him. Our choices leave marks... Continue Reading →
jessica lynn shull 
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