And I’m walkin free
Not letting your words stick
Even though the loudest ones you speak
Are when you say nothing at all

No more band-aids
No more tape
Your labels aren’t welcome here
Nothing on but
The ink that I’ve chosen

And you say I’m beautiful
But you treat me like I’m ugly

Songs that inspired me today:
Lovely - Sara Haze
Free Fallin' - John Mayer

 
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Sorry.
It's what I'm not.

I said what I did and I meant it. It was true and is still. But the questions that keep echoing in my heart are:
Was what I said kind?
Was I easily angered?

If love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" then what did I do with my words? I feel like part of love in a friendship can sometimes be protecting them from our own words.

And now...I'm sorry.
 
Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

One of my most joyful ordinary moments happened a few weeks ago when I was babysitting, as I do three to four times a week. Michael (age 4) and Catherine (age 6) were sitting with me as I was putting on my shoes to leave their house and Michael says "Erin, I wish you were my big sister." To which I say "but Catherine is your big sister!". Catherine then wholeheartedly agrees with Michael and then a torrent of
"I wish you were our big sister!"
breaks out.
And I've never had anyone say that. I wish they were my siblings too, which I promptly told them. 
It was so innocent, sweet, and meaningful to hear that coming from two amazing little people. 
 
Everything's OK. What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?
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Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.
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The past few days I've become obsessed with Taylor Mali (I'll link to a few of his poems at the bottom of this post). He just really inspires me to write, and I love that feeling. So here's a bit:

 
What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?)
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Prompt: Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? 
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I have always wanted to go by the name Rain. I absolutely love it and I feel like it's one of those names that you choose for yourself. I've wanted to introduce myself as Rain sooo many times, but it somehow seems like a lie, even if that's what I would prefer to be called. (My actual name also means so much to me, and it's so personal when one of my friends addresses me by it)

 
Prompt: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?
Well first, 3 things:
1. This post is actually supposed to be about my future self, so if you're looking for that writing prompt, well, I didn't feel like writing about that. 
2. I don't actually believe in this. I'm very much a 'no regrets' sort of person, and that's saying something if you know my past. I wouldn't change any of it, because it got me here.
3. I was 10 years old ten years ago (4th grade). So here's a picture so you have a mental image:

 
Jon Acuff, author of the blog 'Stuff Christians Like' wrote a 40 before 40 list for his latest blog post, listing the stuff he'd like to accomplish before he turns 40 (he has 5 years, as of today). 

So I was like...well that's bitchin! (that word needs to come back, and not mean a female dog, but instead 'cool'. Cause seriously...it's awesome.)

Here's (part of) my 25 before 25 list: