Since my June photo blog is finally up a month late I may as well send July's up there with it. This past month I learned that in order for relationsips to be anything worth missing you have to put some work in. Old news, I know, but often when you experience something first hand it becomes more realistic and something you may have heard your whole life finally makes sense because it actually applies to you. My dad reminded me tonight that it's really super important to go about living with an outward perspective instead of an inward. We cannot provide all the love, care, and nourishment that we need for ourselves. Silly lame little analogy: Let's say Ann and Blake are engaged, if Ann and Blake are both in the relationship seeking only to receive, their relationship won't be strong because they will both be sending empty boomerangs out that come right back to them without bringing anything home. If they go into the relationship sending arrows of love at eachother instead, they will both be giving love and by giving they will be recieving. Make any sense? I can see the little picture worked out in my head but don't know if I explained my thoughts well. Basically, you can't walk around town thinking only of what you want and what you desire and what you can get out of every situation because that will leave you empty. If you walk into your day with eyes open to find others needs and do your best to help and love them then you will be truly blessed because that is the example that Jesus set for us. It's a struggle, it really is, especially for me. But it is also a joy to live with an outward perspective and I am thankful for the people in my life who have been reminding me of that. I had the best weekend of my summer in July as well as the beginning of something very hard and want to be as thankful as I can for everything.