127 cents
I love lists. There's something tremendously satisfying about making and completing a list. There's also something grounding about it. It gives your ideas feet because now you can see them and actually do something about them instead of having them float around in the ether of your mind!
In honour of my love of lists, here is a list of 127 things I've learned, or my 127 cents (my 10 cents, but with extra cuz I'm generous. You see it, right?
This is by no means to say that I am done with learning and growing (see #103). However, it is meant to encourage you to think about things you've learned and maybe apply some cool new ideas to your life.
As a side note, try making a list of the things you've learned. Keep a journal and write down one new idea or something you've learned every day. It doesn't have to be a lot! Small consistency creates big change!
1. If you need to move something, you need to deal with it (e.g., if you’re trying to sit on the couch but it has random stuff on it, instead of just displacing it, put it away).
2. When cooking, clean as you go.
3. Try lots of new recipes and lots of new spices.
4. Try implementing the Sunday reset. It revitalizes your week.
5. Drive in the slow lane.
6. Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.
7. Read more books.
8. Make habits you care about easy by making them accessible quickly.[1]
9. Carry a small notebook with you to jot down inspiration on-the-go.
10. Everyday, spend at least two minutes in silence before God.
11. Mediocre yet consistent effort is better than amazing yet inconsistent effort.
12. Brussels sprouts are actually pretty rad when you fry them in butter and spices.
13. Speaking of, broccoli is DELISH when you fry in butter, lemon juice, s + p, and garlic.
14. Handwritten letters always brighten the recipient’s day.
15. Kwan loong oil is a great muscle relaxant after a hot bath or shower.
16. Journaling before bed is a good decompressor. Especially if accompanied by a cup of tea.
17. Jasmine tea with milk and honey.
18. Practice makes progress, not perfection.
19. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.[2]
20. The pomodoro method actually works. 25-minute intervals of focused work interspersed with 5-minute breaks. Very good for focusing when you need to finish something.
21. START.[3]
22. You’ll never regret time that you don’t spend on your phone.
23. Serving God doesn’t happen by accident.
24. Loving other people is typically not glamorous. It’s the nitty-gritty, “I love you anyway.”
28. You don’t do big things in your comfort zone.[6]
29. Look people in the eye and say thank you. Acknowledge their existence, people matter.
30. Think before you speak.
31. Deleting apps off your phone isn’t always enough. Having a friend change your passwords isn’t always enough. Be radical about guarding your time from useless distractions.
32. Accountability is important for tackling most things in life.
33. Pain is temporary.[7]
34. Ask lots of questions. It’s okay to look silly while you’re gathering information.
35. Listen to The Gray Havens band. The She Waits album is pure gold.[8]
36. Try making Doro Wat with authentic Ethiopian Berbere at least once in your life.[9]
37. If you want to be a writer, you need to write. Writers write. Likewise, whatever you want to become, you have to cultivate.
38. Adaptogen lattes are tasty AND good for you!
39. Take a long, hard look at your traditions and strongly entrenched beliefs and ask yourself “why?” Hold everything under the magnifying glass of scripture.
40. All shall be most well.[10]
41. To believe anything with certainty, you must first doubt.
42. The ground is always level at the foot of the cross.[11]
43. You don’t have to anticipate the needs of others. You are responsible to others only, not for them.
44. Time is limited.
45. “Unbelief talks of delays; faith knows that properly there can be no such thing.”[12]
46. Attention span is something that is trained.
47. If you have a 2–5-minute task that needs to be done, do it immediately!
48. Marry someone kind.
49. Motivation usually follows action, not the other way around.
50. Whenever possible, go out of your way to do a little more than is expected or asked of you.
51. Meal planning is such a lifesaver! And it doesn’t have to be complicated.[13]
52. You don’t need to keep up with anybody – go at a slow and steady pace.[14]
53. Put in the hard work. It doesn’t matter if it looks like it comes easily to some people or like you’re trying too hard. You have to start small and work your way upwards.
54. Comparison is a robber of joy.
55. Be willing to be bad at new things. “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.”[15]
56. Knowing the name of the cashier at your grocery store is more important than being famous.
57. Good things take time. Don’t rush. Lay the groundwork and take the stairs, not the elevator.
58. God is good. And He knows what’s best.[16]
59. Instead of worrying that you’re missing out, why not extend an invitation yourself?[17]
60. Talk to kids like they’re real people. Show them that they matter.
61. Never be too proud to learn from anybody.
62. People are doing the best they can with what they have.[18]
63. Loving people genuinely comes from a heart that has first experienced the completely unconditional love of God.[19]
64. You have value because the God who created the universe loves you. He went so far as to die for you to demonstrate that love.
65. “Only the suffering God can help.” Because of Jesus, we have such a God.[20]
66. This world is not my home.
67. You can make stickers with parchment paper, tape, and pictures or dried flowers.
68. Prioritize people rather than experiences or things.
69. Cardamom is an underrated spice. This Christmas, make pebernodders.[21]
70. Grow something. Cut flowers, a spider plant, fresh basil in your kitchen windowsill… you don’t need a big garden.[22]
71. Get an hourglass!
72. Pack your lunch the night before.[23]
73. Cheesecakes in a jar – portable and delicious.[24]
74. Ask for help when needed.
75. Turn your phone off for a day on a regular basis.
76. Keep an index card with you while reading to write down things that inspire you or words you don’t know for future inquiry.
77. Identify and feel your feelings in a safe, healthy way.[25]
78. Hannah Brencher’s Gospel Reading Challenge is phenomenal. I would recommend trying it out![26]
79. The Bible Project Podcast is great for the early morning commute.
80. Handpicked bouquets from the garden (or the window box!) are an incredible gift to receive!
81. If you see a roadside stand with a little entrepreneur, stop and say hi and buy the lemonade or the rainbow loom bracelet.
82. Be an encourager. Life can be very disheartening, but you have the opportunity to speak life to people.[27]
83. Shop with a list whenever possible.
84. Life is short. Light the expensive candles. Use the pretty soap from the farmer’s market. Drink the Tazo chai latte. You don’t have to save the nice things for a special occasion. Life is a special occasion.
85. Give generously whenever you can.[28]
86. Being faithful starts with small things like keeping your word.
87. Sushi and ramen = a balanced diet with all the food groups.
88. Dance parties count as exercise.
89. Make lists of your friends’ favourites or things/dates that are important to them.
90. When you say you’re going to pray for someone, follow through.
91. People tend to have a natural negative bias. When you catch yourself slipping into negativity, ask yourself, why do I feel this way? What does this tell me about how I think? And, more importantly, is this True?
92. When making popcorn in a pot, heat up the oil first and then add the kernels. Works wonders![29]
93. If you don’t absolutely love it, don’t buy it.[30]
94. Paul Tripp writes good stuff.
95. Charcuterie boards are so chic and well worth the effort.
96. Matt Boswell and Keith & Kristyn Getty write great music.
97. Learning another language expands your world (and your understanding of language in general).
98. Support your friends. If your friend owns a hair salon, get your hair cut there and pay full price because you want to see your friend succeed.
99. Waiting is always part of life. Don’t rush the passageways, the messy in-betweens. When you are pursuing God through prayer and His word, you’re right where God intends you to be.
100. Don’t allow honest but unpleasant work, outsiders, or outcasts to be beneath you.
101. Learning technique for piano is actually useful if you ever want to chord or play by ear. Put in the work!
102. Express your gratitude out loud to people. Write thank you notes. Be a thankful human.
103. Be committed to learning always.
104. It’s always good to have a dad joke or two at the ready.[31]
105. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you.[32]
106. There are so many good ideas on Pinterest.
107. Just because it’s trendy or popular doesn’t mean it’s valuable.
108. RSVP means to respond with both whether you’re going or whether you’re not.[33]
109. Move your body everyday.
110. Prebook the appointment to get your winter tires put on – don’t wait until the first snow hits and everyone is trying to get in.
111. Build margin into your life by slowing down. That way, when something unexpected comes up, you have space for it.[34]
112. Read the Bible every day. Don’t let this be optional.
113. Shared joy is doubled joy, shared sorrow is divided.[35]
114. Fill up old notebooks before buying new ones.
115. Redeem moments of inactive time.[36]
116. If you want to see something change within your family culture, your friend group, or at work, why not be the initiator?[37]
117. Failing is uncomfortable, but it is one of the best ways to grow and learn.
118. Homemade bread is easier to make than you think.
119. When you’re reading, don’t skim the words. Slow down and savour.
120. Spider plants are good because they are very low maintenance.
121. Every choice you make involves some kind of trade-off.
122. You are not better than anyone, regardless of your accomplishments. You are not the sum of what you do.
123. Kombucha is pretty easy to make, and you can carbonate it very easily and without any special equipment.[38]
124. Go outside and watch the stars sometime. Take a constellation chart with you and learn a few constellations to identify.
125. You can’t be anything you want to be. There are limitations.
126. How you love people who are difficult to love says a lot more about how loving you are than how you love people who are easy to love.
127. Don’t skip to the end.[39]
♪ - listen to Not Home Yet by The Gray Havens.
References
[1] E.G. if you want to write more, leave a notebook in the bathroom. If you want to clean more, put the cleaning supplies at the front of the closet. If you want to read more, have your book on the coffee table beside the couch you always sit on.
[2] C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
[3] Whatever it is you’re putting off – start. Whether it’s something you have to do or something you want to do. Scummy progress is better than zero progress.
[4] One of my sister’s college professors.
[5] The Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:33. Isolation is bad for your mental state, but the company you keep will change the way you think. Choose your friends wisely. Who do you want to become?
[6] My coworker, Lindsay.
[7] 2 Corinthians 4
[8] The Gray Havens, 2018. https://open.spotify.com/album/1k2TfoQgjRJcpQNSDj3y4I?si=8833htWVRfK7rHHx8WMq4A
[9] The Daring Gourmet, 2013. Doro Wat (Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew) - The Daring Gourmet
[10] Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy.
[11] I’m not sure of the original source, it was in a book my dear friend Kristine was reading.
[12] John Newton.
[13] Not only does it make grocery shopping easier (an itemized weekly list? Yes, please!) but you won’t have to think about what you’re going to make when you get home. All you have to do is pull out the frozen ingredients the night before and you’re ready to go. And you’ll have everything you need from your itemized grocery shopping!
[14] I mean, you’ve heard of the Tortoise and the Hare before, right?
[15] G.K. Chesterton.
[16] “We can thank God ahead of time for giving us the things we would have asked for if we knew everything He knew.” Tim Keller.
[17] Be the one who invites people out for coffee or over to play Scrabble. Invite people over for dinner, movie nights, or to go grocery shopping. Be with the people you care about.
[18] Sometimes their best is not the best. Sometimes what they have is not that great, either. Be so gracious, you don’t know what people are going through.
[19] You want to love people? Love God. And know how deeply He loves you. You are worth dying for. Romans 8:38-39, Romans 5:8.
[20] Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Jesus, “God with us”, experienced life as a human. He understands what it’s like to be hungry, tired, full of grief, and He suffered. He knows. And He cares.
[21] Recipe for Danish Peppernuts (Pebernodder) - The ORIGINAL recipe (nordicfoodliving.com)
[22] Another reminder to start small.
[23] As a bonus: lay out what you’re going to wear the night before as well.
[24] Easy Lemon Marble Cheesecakes in a Jar (transformedbyjoy.com)
[25] Cry when you need to. Laugh when you need to. Use a feeling wheel to help you figure out what you’re feeling. Journal or talk it out. Do this on a regular basis.
[26] The Gospel Challenge — Hannah Brencher (hannahbrenchercreative.com)
[27] “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25, AMP.
[28] Giving can be your time, your money, your skills, your possessions. Whatever it is, you can find a way to share something with someone, even if it’s an encouraging word.
[29] Learned this hack from my lovely sister, Rebekah.
[30] Instant savings. Also, by this token, if you don’t love it, get rid of it. The best decluttering hack!
[31] What did Yoda say when he saw himself in 4K? HDMI. // My friend went on a date with a woman who works at the zoo. She’s a keeper.
[32] You have to find rhythms that work with your lifestyle. For example, just because getting up at 5am works wonders for someone else doesn’t mean that it will work wonders for you because you’re in a different phase in life. Learn from others but apply wisdom in a way that works with your context, not against it.
[33] People are not mind-readers! Communicate!
[34] This is a big idea, hard to encapsulate in a bite-sized note. But by avoiding schedule overload, you will create space for moments when things happen. For example, when your friend has a baby, you’ll have space to make and bring them supper. Or when someone is struggling, you’ll have space to visit them with flowers and encouragement.
[35] A Danish Proverb. Having a supportive community (even if it’s little) is life-changing.
[36] That is, time where your hands are busy but your mind is not. For example, showering, folding laundry, or even driving (which does require some brainpower, obviously). Redeem this time by listening to a Podcast or audiobook, or calling a friend. A small amount of time spent doing anything is better than none!
[37] For example, if you want to pray together as a family, why not reach out to everyone and organize a time to do so? Or if you want to have fun games nights with your friends, you can ask them to do so! You can send the text, have the uncomfortable conversation, or gather the supplies. You can initiate changes you want to see!
[38] I have a great recipe from my dear friend, Kara, and I also have spare SCOBYs if anyone wants to try!
[39] Kate Bowler in Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved. Be where your feet are.
