August 2022 – ♛ The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen ♛

Good morning, afternoon, day, or evening everybody! This is Princess Q’Zion, and welcome back to my blog! Well, September is almost here. And that means that August of 2022 is about to come to an end. It almost feels like this month went by a little too fast. But, it was a great month–thank God–so I can’t really complain.

Here is a wrap-up of how I spent this August. Let’s get started!

Life Updates

So, I’ve officially gotten through my first month of high school . . . and now that I’ve got back into the lingo of doing my school work every day, I can officially say that I don’t think it’s that different from junior high. For me, entering high school was kind of like turning 13; I felt a little bit more mature and like I was starting a new chapter. But there have not been any drastic changes in my life. And to be honest, I’m super happy about that, because I love my live as it is.

Towards the end of this month, me and Goodmommy have began walking outside three days a week to increase our stamina. We originally started due to a fitness assessment for my HOPE course–but we loved it so much that we decided to walk outdoors regularly. And even though we practically just started our fitness journey, I’m already feeling healthier and happier, every day. Oh, and speaking of my family, it’s been a while since I’ve gave an update on Peace–my betta fish–to you guys. Honestly, I think Peace gets more and more energetic every day. Here’s a picture of him.

This was one of the only clear pictures that I could get of Peace today because every time I come up to the tank, he wiggles so fast that it’s so hard to catch him being still lol. But can we talk about how Peace’s colors have gotten even more vibrant compared to a month ago? Let’s face it: Peace simply *cannot* take a bad photo.

Books That I Read

A majority of the reading that I did this month outside of school was actually around the first week of August. Because in reality, being a freshman is practically the same thing as having a part-time job. Anyway, I’m just happy that I was able to finish a few books, this month, since it’s something that I’ve been working on, recently. Plus, considering that my birthday and Christmas are both right around the corner, I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be getting some new books very soon. 😉

Frozen II: Forest of Shadows by Kamila Benko – After a year-and-a-half’s pause halfway through this 416-page novel, I finally finished it. I have to admit though that once I resumed, I literally could not put this one down!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney – In my opinion, Rodrick Rules is the best out of all of the DoaWK movies, and I think the book was really good, too!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney – This book was the inspiration of the Dog Days film. And I’ve got to say, it’s probably one of the funniest additions to the series (although none of them compare to the original, in my opinion.)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney – Greg–the protagonist of the series–was mainly just rambling throughout the course of this book. Nothing super exciting happened, since it was literally Greg just jotting down his random thoughts. But overall, it still included some funny moments and made me smile, so I’ll count it as a win.

Movies That I Watched

Pureflix–which is basically the Christian version of Netflix–had been a little disappointing for the past couple months. Like, it was really hard to find something that was actually good to watch. Me and Goodmommy were even thinking about trading it for a new streaming service–even though we really didn’t want to.

But thank God, Pureflix finally had a good comeback this month! So to make a long story short, we binged the new additions throughout the entire month, and we found some really good Christian films! Here is a list of all the movies that I watched this August, and a few of my takeaways from each one.

The World We Make – I think we actually saw this film at the end of July, but I still really wanted to include it because I absolutely loved it! Interracial couples are kind of marginalized in the entertainment industry. But I’m glad to see that they’ve gotten more representation within the past few years. This movie really touched on the subjects of racism, racial prejudice, grieving, and what true love really is in a really tasteful way. I definitely recommend it for everyone!
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters – A relationship between a father and his daughter is probably one of the most precious of them all. I thought that this movie did a really great job of portraying the ups and downs of that relationship. This one is a strong recommendation of mine for other teenagers–especially teenage girls, because the two oldest daughters in the movie are both facing things that many girls will likely find relatable.
Miracles From Heaven – This tear jerker of a movie–which just so happens to be a true story–is a must-watch for the entire family. Even though me and Goodmommy watched it about two times before re-watching it this month, we still both ended up crying, once again. No matter how many times you watch it, it’s going to affect you, and that’s what I love about this film! PLEASE don’t sleep on this movie–it is truly a ✨ masterpiece. ✨
Why We Breathe – All I have to say about this movie is- eh. Although I appreciated how the movie included a well-represented black character and the tastefully-addressed issue of domestic violence, I didn’t really like the main character’s personality. Sure, almost every protagonist makes some mistakes, throughout the course of a plot, but I feel like the main character in this film made several mistakes without redeeming herself. In conclusion, the film was a good idea, but the execution was far from stellar.
Play the Flute – Although I thought the start of this one was kind of slow, it became a favorite of mine about halfway through. The plot of teenagers who doubt the concepts of Christianity changing their ways and developing their relationships with God was a really satisfying watch. The themes of peer pressure, making our lives count for God, and what it means to “play the flute” (Matthew 11:17) gave me a better understanding about both the Bible and life itself. If you’re a Christian teen, Play the Flute is definitely a must-watch.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

Well, I published a total of 18 post on my blog, this August. Pretty good! These are some of my personal favorites, for this month.

Aaaaannnnddd, that’s all for the wrap-up of August 2022. Honestly, creating a recap of my entire month was unexpectedly satisfying. I would really appreciate if you all would let me know what you thought about it. You never know: monthly wrap-ups just might become a new tradition, on The Joys and Trials and a Christian Teen.

What was the best part(s) of this August for you? Also, is there anything that you have planned in the last few months of the year that you are looking forward to? Feel free to share your responses in the comments.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! Peace in, and I’ll catch you later! ♡

What’s up, everybody! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to my blog! I hope all of you are enjoying the prime of summer!

As you all know, we recently entered the month of August. But did you know that the 8th month of the year also promotes wellness in our everyday lives? If not, then today’s the day! In honor of National Wellness Month, I have created a list of 8 simple tips to help us live our happiest and healthiest lives possible. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road!

1. Start your mornings with something productive

The morning is one of the most important times of the day; it’s a time for us to get our gears moving and create a fresh start for a brand new 24 hours. After we finish our regular morning routine, we might as well do something to boost our energy. Stretching with some yoga poses, finishing another chapter of your new book, and learning a new language are a few options. You never know–after you begin to start your day doing something you love, you may even become a morning person.

2. Go outside and get some sunlight

Exercise is just as good for our minds as it is beneficial for our bodies. And that means that it’s one of the best ways to maintain a healthier lifestyle. A quick jog around your neighborhood or a local park is a great way to enjoy what nature has to offer while burning a few calories, before dinner. What’s not to love?

3. Eliminate negative self-talk

Wellness isn’t technically something that’s hard to achieve–but the progress starts with us. In order to transition to a state of better mental health, our mindsets have to be a reflection of that. This means that in order to make the progress that we want, we’ve got to be kind to ourselves by promoting positive words in our heads everyday. It’s much easier to reach a goal when we use our inner voice as an outlet of encouragement, rather than negativity.

4. Get a green thumb

Have you ever heard that people who garden tend to be happier? Well, then that is in fact correct. Multiple studies have shown that plants have a way of helping people feel more relaxed and content, similar to the effects of riding a bike everyday. Plants can even help increase concentration, your ability to breathe, and quality of life. So taking up the hobby of gardening might be a good idea to consider.

5. Creatively eat more fruits and veggies

Although we’ve all heard it thousands of times, we really do need to get our daily intakes of fruits and veggies. But just because we want to make an effort to make our diet more nutritious, doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun while doing it. Feel free to experiment with creative–and delicious–ways to eat healthier. Fruit smoothies, colorful salads, and veggie casseroles are a few tasty ways to spice things up in the kitchen.

6. Create something

I don’t know about you, but it always feels good when I take some time out of my day to be creative. There are so many options for what you can make–whether it’s a few quick doodles, a portrait, a paper craft, or even your own book. All it takes is a little imagination, and thousands of productive possibilities are within our reach!

7. Make sleep a priority

One of the things that we all need everyday is our beauty sleep. Without it, there’s no way that we could get through each day. So even if you find yourself busy as a bee, make sure that when your work for today is done, you get your 8 hours. This way, you can put just as much energy in the work that tomorrow has in store, and feel great while doing it.

8. Stay hydrated

The golden rule to a healthy lifestyle is to keep water in our systems. Not only does water reduce the risk of a large number of diseases, but it also does the basic job of maintaining high energy levels and keeping our brain functioning at its best. Considering all it’s benefits, drinking water is definitely a goal that we should all commit to.

Working towards a healthier lifestyle can be a challenge for some, but with a few simple changes here and there, achieving our wellness goals is a piece of cake. I challenge you all to take the time during National Wellness Month to make a few goals for yourself to pave the way for a healthier, and happier life. Hopefully, these tips were a good way to start your journey!

Let’s Chat~What are some of the methods that you take to achieve wellness? Feel free to share your response down below.

Have a blessed rest of your day, everyone! I’ll catch you later! ♡