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- So, I started this habit in college—one of journaling.
That's right.
Little 18-year-old Rachel
in her dorm room
with her journals, just journaling away.
I would journal prayers, what I was learning,
thoughts, moments of drama, probably like—
everything went down in my journals in college.
And I remember being a freshman,
and I had briefly met Winston Cruze,
and I remember meeting him for the first time,
and I was like, "Oh, wow!
He's good-looking and loves Jesus. That's pretty cool."
And I didn't really like, you know—saw him
and didn't really think much about it.
Well, two weeks later, it was the second week
of classes, very early in my freshman year.
I was walking into a restaurant with two girlfriends,
and it's so funny, I remember what I was wearing.
I had Nike gym shorts, sorority t-shirt,
glasses with Croakies—if y'all remember the Croakies—
you know, with the Chi Omega sign on the back.
That's right. Chi Os.
X and a horseshoe, Chi O.
And I was walking in,
and out came Winston with two friends,
and we passed, and he said,
"Oh, I've met you. Rachel, right?"
And I was like, "Yeah, yeah."
He's like, "Cool. Good to see you."
Kept on walking, and I thought—
and my friends looked at me,
and they're like, "Who was that?"
I was like, "That was Winston Cruze."
And one of my friends was like, "You need to date him!"
I was like, "I'm trying!"
It's like, yeah—gave it my best effort, gals,
but it's not happening.
Thought he was out of my league.
He was, like, two years older than me—all that things.
But I went back to my dorm room
in the University of Tennessee,
and I wrote down in my journal, which I still have.
I said, "God, if I could marry a man like Winston Cruze,
I would be so happy."
And then, the next day, he asked me out.
Just kidding!
It took about a year and a half.
(laughs) He finally asked me out,
but we started dating, fell in love, got married—
all the things.
But I look back at that moment, specifically,
and then so many moments!
Like, through college, through my career,
up until now being a mom
and writing things down.
You guys, it has such power.
Because I can go back,
and I can learn how faithful God has been,
how good He is—but also all the amazing things in my life.
And I've realized how rich my life is
and how much I have grown.
And again, I realize,
when you write these things down, you guys,
you become grateful.
And part of being content is starting with gratitude.
So, I want to challenge you.
I want you guys to do this. And you may think,
"Rachel, I don't have time to journal."
Well, here's an idea.
How much time do you spend on social media each day?
Oh, yeah. That's right.
Guys, even our phones tell us how much time we spend.
It's terrible.
It's, like, disgusting. It makes my stomach turn
when I see my numbers.
I'm like, "No, no, no, no, no."
So, instead of wasting your time
focusing on other people's moments on social media,
write down your own so they don't slip away.
And I have something so exciting to help you with this.
Dun-duh-duh-da.
This is "The Contentment Journal"
(deep inhale and exhale)
by Rachel Cruze, if you're not aware.
(laughs)
It's my new journal!
I'm so excited!
I mean, isn't it beautiful?
Like, it shines.
It's gold foil on the front.
And you guys, I am, like, so pumped about this.
So, what this is,
it is a 90-day guided journal.
It's going to walk you through
gratitude, humility, and contentment,
because our goal, in our world today—
If you can be content, you guys,
you can win not only with money,
but in so many areas of your life.
And you'll go from feeling
busy and distracted and unfulfilled
to appreciating your life again
and realize how full and fun it really is.
So, click the link in the show notes
to get your own copy of "The Contentment Journal."
(light exhale) I'm so excited about it.
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