Do you know your love language?

What's a love language, you say? Have you ever wondered how you receive- and give- love?

The 5 Love Languages is a great book that's expanded to a series applicable to just about anything you can think of - work, children, teens, etc. 

Typically, people express and receive love in five ways: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts. I find this utterly fascinating.

I know my top-2: Physical Touch and Quality Time.  I would much prefer a hug and having a meaningful episode of quality time with a friend or family member to a present or an act of service.  (Sometimes this leads to me hugging people I've just met...though there's no reason to be alarmed.)And Lord knows, I do not take compliments well and shy away from words of affirmation. "Awkward Turtle" ensues and I feel quite uncomfortable. 

Oddly enough, I scored a ZERO on Gifts.... this explains why we call my sister the Christmas Elf, and not me. 
 And as many times as I've taken the test, it's the same- by one or two points.

When giving love, not surprisingly, I often struggle to affirm people with words and I have anxiety about gift giving.  Since it's not how I most receive love, it doesn't come as easy to me.  I mean, honestly...why can't everyone just want to snuggle?!

But this brings me to the greater point - improving how I love others, by becoming more aware of their love languages.  If I  know someone is better at gifts, or appreciates words, I will try to love on them that way more often.

I'm going to encourage my family to take the test. Help a girl out! And I'd encourage you to take it too - a great exercise in self-awareness.  Happy Friday.

Hugs,
LMS

The Good & Bad of people

Saturday morning I went to spin class at my gym. In my exercise-high, I left my iPod neatly wrapped in my headphones behind my bike, and sauntered out.

I would only remember this as I scrambled around my apartment for it the next morning on my way to workout. (I am ALWAYS losing things because of carelessness, just ask my mother.) Nervous, I headed to the gym hoping someone had found it, only to discover - someone had broken in to our gym!

Broken glass, shattered entrance, police cars all around the building.  While several early arrivals stood there and spoke to one of the employees, we were stunned.  It's in a secure building where you need a key card - so was someone lurking?   What time had this happened? Wasn't there an alarm? Or do they have access to the building already?

Which leads me to question: What on earth do you want to break into a gym for?  I'm guessing there's not a lot of money there- people use credit cards to pay their fees these days. Are you going to haul a treadmill out of there?  Here's a tip: Bosu balls are like $20 at Target. 

Maybe it was some sort of twisted sequel to Pain & Gain going on (warning: based on a true story, still, that whole scene is messed up).  But in all curiousness, what on earth could possibly be so pressing to shatter the doors of a gym?

That was the Ugly.

So I went about my day-  brunched, walked, and headed back to check on the ipod.  Lo & Behold - open the skies to singing angels- someone had turned in my ipod to the front desk where they had locked it in a drawer.

"Alright, she finally got to the point of the story," I know that's what you're thinking... I agree, this is the most mundane story to be blogging about.  Heavy lids...slow fingers...sleepy...

But THAT, my friends, was the Good. 

In each dim circumstance, there is always a little light. Let me guarantee you, for every thug breaking and entering a workout facility, there are 35 more filling a spin class that will hand in something valuable to the lost & found.
Humanity, we are winning.

A New season

I first began blogging what is now 6 years ago. I was anonymous just for the sake of being anonymous - who wants to be known for their opinions in the public sphere? That's an awfully scary place. But mostly it was an outlet for my energy and opinions on politics, books, current events, sports, faith... to share the things I found inspiration, beautiful and ridiculous... and a channel for my journey from girl to woman. 6 years later... I'm no closer to a woman than I am a girl, but I realized I've missed writing. I've missed the ability to comment on the world around me- if not even a soul read my words, to put it down. I released it for whatever good it might do - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the uglier.

 I'm dusting off this blog- the sun is coming out - and I'm sharing this publicly, hoping some of you might even read it and offer your comments. I'm in a new place, having moved from my beloved Midwest back to the area I grew up, Washington, D.C. It hasn't been the smoothest transition, but I'm not one to bemoan my situation for long if it's less than pleasant - I am one to see the glass half-full, suck it up and make the most of it. Afterall, there is so much good around me. I'm immensely blessed, and undeserving. But in all honesty, I'm in a season I don't feel properly dressed for. The wind picks up at the most unexpected moments and I'm without protection from the elements. Exposed. Aware of my loneliness. Joel Osteen had an email last week I found poignant:

"God has set up seasons in our lives. It’s easy to get frustrated when our dreams aren’t coming to pass on our timetable, but every season is not harvest season. There are plowing seasons. There are planting seasons. There are watering seasons. Sure, we would love for every season to be a time of increase left and right, good breaks here and there. But without the other seasons, we wouldn’t be prepared. For example, it’s during the plowing seasons that God brings issues to light that we need to deal with. He’s getting us prepared for promotion.

If you’re not making as much progress as you would like, the key is to not lose any ground. Don’t go backwards. Hold your position. Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it’s hard. When you do that, you are passing the test, and God promises that your due season of harvest is coming. Be encouraged because your appointed time of increase, favor and promotion is on its way, and He will fulfill every dream and desire He’s placed within your heart. Remember, harvest is coming!"

So for now, I will do as Joel reminds: Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it’s hard.

 I'm asking God to reveal the issues I need to deal with, and the purpose for this season.

And giving Him the dreams of my heart... And in the meantime, offer my little-older/little-wiser commentary on this new season, the terrible drivers in Northern Virginia, and all other things in life.

 Here goes nothin',
Little Miss Sunshine