Day to day life can be incredibly difficult. It’s easy to get bogged down by daily routines and stressors. Before you know it, the years go flying by and leave you with a whirlwind of memories. I know from personal experience that it’s hard to stay in the moment – especially when there’s always something to get done or a deadline that’s inching closer. I found myself grasping for something to satisfy me, but could never seem to feel fulfilled with what I thought might fill the empty feeling I carried with me. Life can feel overwhelming. It is overwhelming. It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and yet way too short. I wanted to find an answer. I was tired of feeling exhausted and unmotivated. How do other people do it? How do other people seem to have it all put together? I knew there had to be some kind of answer.

That’s when I realized – life doesn’t have to feel this way.

Our minds are powerful. They constantly formulate ideas, learn so many new things, and can remember an endless stream of information. I was feeling unsatisfied because I was choosing to be dissatisfied. When I took a step back and looked around at my life, I realized that I actually did have way more than I could ever ask for. Definitely way more than I could ever deserve. I may not have the nicest car, but I have a vehicle that safely gets me to and from work. I may not have the fanciest sectional in my living room, but I have two very well-loved couches that have been a place where I’ve made endless memories with my loved ones. In fact – my ugly couches that were purchased nearly 30 years ago are found in photos with my late grandmother holding me as an infant. Those couches may be falling apart (and eventually will be replaced), but they have always been a part of a safe, comfortable home.

Faith and Ink is designed to be a platform bursting with gratitude. Not just for big and exciting accomplishments, but specifically for finding comfort and contentment in the mundaneness of life. Everyone on social media puts forward the best and most put-together versions of themselves… but you and I both know that reality doesn’t always look like that. Real life is full of dramatic twists and turns, unexpected jump-scares, and lots of dishes and laundry. And that sort of content is definitely not what’s being posted online for followers to “like.” In fact – I think the majority of people would probably “dislike” doing loads of laundry. I know I would.

But that is where the gratitude comes in.

Our thought lives are incredibly telling of our attitude towards things. Groaning at the sight of dog hair all over your freshly-washed work clothes, choosing to keep putting off scrubbing the floorboards that have some mysterious stain on them… it’s simple to choose to begrudgingly move through our days. But what if it was different?

The content I write on FaithandInk.org will always be full of real life experiences. Choosing to be excited about dusting the bookshelves is certainly not the easiest mindset shift, but beginning to train your mind into having a more joyous and positive outlook on small things helps the heaviness of life’s burdens feel significantly lighter. No, I certainly do not always enjoy doing household chores. But when I choose to look at it from a place of feeling honored to be able to serve my family and provide them with a clean and comforting place to come home to – it makes all the difference.