Love blogs? How to read them easily.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hi friends,

At the risk of this post seeming like an advertisement, I'm putting a plug in for some cool websites/apps that I'm using and make blog reading a breeze.

If you're like me and you love reading a lot of different blogs, it can get hard to keep up and become easy to miss stuff if you're visiting each site separately at a time. Or, if you get them all in your email inbox per day that's hard too because it can get a bit overwhelming. There are maybe only two blogs I read when they enter my email now, unfortunately the rest get deleted as I'm in a hurry to check my emails and log out.

What has worked really well for me is to subscribe using a Reader. This is basically a program where you have an account (like gmail for Google) and you just enter every blog you follow, and it puts it into a format that is easy to manage. You just work your way through the list. (this is the laymans version of explaining such things so just excuse my lack of technical knowlege if you know more than I do!). I was using Google Reader, which was good - because I linked it up then to the Feedly app on my phone. All my Google Reader subscriptions got put into there and became this cool, magazine-like thing that was so easy to read. There has been a bit of press about Google phasing out Reader, so know that Feedly is not dependent on it (it was just easiest for me at the time). It's independent from Google Reader so can be used just as it is.

Now I'm using Bloglovin' and I'm really enjoying it. What it means is I open it up when I have time and am in the mood to do some reading, and it's all there one after the other, looking purretty. Check it out:

So I hope that's useful to somebody, and now you can go ahead and have fun reading to your hearts content! Bloglovin' is good too because it has an app (free) for iPhone in the app store, but is also just a website - so you don't have to be an iPhone user to enjoy it. 

I hope you're enjoying your Easter weekend!

xx Sarah

I want to be average

Funny title, huh.

I've spent 10 days on holiday, which has been amazing but actually more than that it has just been necessary. I was on the verge of losing.it. Whatever "it" is.

So, as you do whilst on holiday, I spent some time reevaluating. And that's what has inspired the title of this post - wanting to be average.

Perhaps it's because we just did the census here in New Zealand and I'm in survey mode. But in any case I was thinking about surveys and those ones where you are asked to evaluate the person or performance on a scale - with average in the middle and then below average, very poor, above average, and outstanding on either side.

I am aware that as a person I am out of balance. And that some of the things that I am below average on and above average on, are robbing from other things, or adding to other things, and it's having a bad effect on me.

I made a survey and thought I'd put it here - I've circled my answers. (If it looks small on your screen basically very poor is on the left, average in the middle, outstanding on the right).

(Yes, I'm a dork).

For me to function as a human being and not turn into a vegetable, I need to re-order some stuff in my life. I have placed such a high value on being reliable, dependable, a good friend, saving the day, "Being Jesus", Loving Others, Serving, and doing lots of other very worthwhile things, that I've sacrificed some very basic needs of my own - for example having a shower more than once or twice a week (yes, it's embarrassing, now you know) - and also some important emotional things, like spending time with God, doing things I enjoy, and getting a bit of exercise or eating something healthier than just toast because it happens to be there and is quick. Let alone sleep. I mean, hello. Hard with a three and a half month old baby anyway, but I'm surely not going to get any extra when I'm rushing about trying to be everything to everybody else. And at the end of the day my relationships with my husband and kids suffer if I've got no energy left for them after being there for everyone else. And that's not cool because they are my loves, my legacy, my lifes work and my joy.

 

This is hard for me, because I love people - I love my friends, I love to be there for people, especially those who are lonely. It's either how God made me and is my heart, or it's a result of my upbringing - either way, it's not natural for me to be able to ignore a need. 

I'm having to learn - every need is not necessarily mine to fix or fill. Sometimes prayer is the best thing you can offer. If your family don't get your time or attention when they need it, don't offer it to others until they do. Sometimes peoples feelings might get hurt but if your heart is in the right place then they will understand, if they actually are your friend. Sometimes it is okay to be alone. It is good to do things that make you happy. Sometimes it is okay to say no, and not give a reason why.

So I'm aiming to be average. I can't bring the Very Poor or Below Average areas in my life up unless I bring some of the others down. I'm really, really sorry about that. Does this mean you can no longer depend on me? I think it probably does. Please depend on God instead. He can do so much more than I can. He is a better friend, mentor, and life-giver than I. Way way WAY better! How prideful of me to try to get in there and do his work. Sorry, Jesus. 

And yet I can hear some people say "So Sarah, this is all well and good, but it's still about you DO-ing. What about BE-ing?" Yep, I get that. That's what I'm trying at. I guess this is just a practical way of assessing my life. If I make it clear what I'm heading towards, perhaps people will be able to accept the times I want to just BE. To just sit outside under a tree with my kids. To just sit in a chair with my eyes closed. To just listen to my husband talk. 

Thanks for reading, and for being in my life. I feel the need to apologise and ask forgiveness - but let me say this - none of us, you or I, should ever have to apologise for wanting to be healthier, and happier, and more whole. None of us. So I won't apologise. I will just say to you, Onwards, on your own journey. Go and find God. Go and find Yourself. Go and find freedom. Find life. Discover your future. Live long and prosper... (hang on, is that Star Trek? I got lost there). I think I may need to go rent Pocahontas again...

xx Sarah 

P.S: I plan to do a post or two next about the good books I've read while I was away, and other light-hearted things. I just felt the need to get this one off my chest first.