Hey everyone, Konner’s recent post about giving and taking time really resonated with me, making me reflect on my own recent relationship with time and contentment. Right now, I'm in a transitional phase where I've stepped back from my job at a local hospital after moving back home in January. It was a busy job that kept me going until early May, but with summer coming up and PA school starting in mid-August, I decided to take some time off to recharge. I can confidently say these past two months haven't been as relaxing as I anticipated. A lot of days often follow a repetitive pattern of waking up, working out, eating, watching TV, and then dozing off again. While physically it seems like downtime, mentally, it's been a challenge. As many of us know, being a collegiate student-athlete creates busy schedules. There would be times I would be busy from 6 in the morning until 10 at night. I thrived on the sense of accomplishment and productivity those days brought. However, now I find myself struggling to feel fulfilled. Reflecting on my daily routine, I realize I've been going through the motions without truly engaging with anyone or growing as an individual. Most days, I feel disconnected. Lately, I've been thinking about Paul’s letter to the Philippians, specifically his main message on finding joy through faith in Christ. The famous verse, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), often quoted out of context, actually speaks to finding contentment in every circumstance through Christ’s strength. True joy, I've come to believe, stems from living out our purpose in Christ which is to serve and build up others toward being disciples of Christ. Although I have tried to create my own happiness through fulfilling my own wants and desires, it has failed me every time. In these final weeks before school resumes, I've made a deliberate effort to center my days around Christ and seek opportunities to serve rather than self-indulge. Despite still doing nothing, I have tried to feel content in the situation I am currently in, understanding there is not much I can do to change it, and I have felt much more joyous in the process.

I’ve seen this book around social media and lists of all time best books. Only 127 pages in so far but really enjoying the story line and the deep detail into each character and how they come together to interact in the setting of the book.