If you have time for tv, you have time for God
Today we are here with Annika Windsor, a year 10 student at Covenant Christian School.
Can you list Three Priorities in your life?
"Okay this isn't in order, family and friends, God, well having a good relationship with God. Being someone that can be there for my friends or family if they ever need it."
What advice would you give to girls wanting to dress stylishly?
"Well everyone has a different style so my advice would be to wear clothes that express who you are and aren't influenced by other people, like that's just clothes that people would explain as you."
Where do you go when you seek advice?
"I go to seek advice from either my family my friends God or my sister."
Who do you most aspire to be like in life one day?
"Okay, this is gonna sound super cheesy, I have two people not in order but they are Ariana Grande and Meryl Streep. Ariana is someone I aspire to be like because no matter how many haters she's got out there she just keeps on going and she makes music that is out of this era, kind of, but she like does it anyway because that's what she likes to do. Meryl is because she is an amazing actress which I hope to be one day and all the characters she has played hasn't changed her own character."
Is there anyone in your life that you look to as a role model?
"My mom because she is so supportive of like everything I do. Even if she doesn't think it’s the right thing she’ll still like be supportive of it. My dad because he isn't afraid of saying what he wants to say and being a complete idiot in public . . . like seriously an idiot hah. And my sister because she’s always there when I need to talk to her. She’s also very good at school and I think that’s something that I can learn from her.
Who would you say is the biggest influence in your life?
Not specifically, but all my friends. For example, Rachel and Tahlia, because like with Tahlia, she’s such an inspiration to me, because she’s gone through so much, but she’s still so strong and still laughing. Rachel because like I often don’t know what to say, like I can’t just say what I think to people but Rachel can say what she’s thinking and she can stand up for herself and other people and I find that really hard so like I want to be influenced by her.”
Do you have any guidelines/rules in your life? Or do you go with the flow?
“I’m normally a go with the flow person but I’m trying to be healthy. I’m planning a healthy diet for myself and a workout plan, but it’s so hard! At the beginning it’s always hard, but at the moment, I’m just trying to stick to that.”
A lot of girls do want to go on a diet, like no matter what the reason is. What do you think the main reason is that girls want to go on a diet?
“I’m just going to say it straight up, I think they want to be skinny and comfortable with themselves. Everybody does, but I think some girls can take it too far then it becomes a problem and that’s when there needs to be a line between being healthy and pushing yourself too far that it becomes unhealthy.”
How do you think girls can determine where that line is? How far is too far?
“Well you just need to know what you are doing. If you are exercising every day, that’s not bad. If you’re eating less than 3 meals a day, that’s when you cross the line.”
So you’re saying still eat a good diet and exercising regularly? So don’t stop eating to get thin?
“Yes, exactly! Another way that you can tell if you’re crossing the line is when you start counting calories. That can become an obsession and I’m saying this from personal experience. If you become really set on something and you work out every day and count every calorie that you eat and burn, you can lose weight really quickly and it may sound good, but it can become really bad . . . you may even end up being hospitalized.”
So when you think of girls these days trying to lose weight, have a good self-image and still maintain a relationship with God, what advice can you give them?
“Well, being healthy is a choice that you are making, being a Christian is also a choice that you are making. They are all choices that you are making. If you’re working out every day, but not reading the Bible/Spending time with God every day, you’re worshiping exercise, not God anymore. So you need to watch what you are doing, you need to be aware of what you’re worshiping, you make think you are worshiping God at youth or Sundays at church, but that’s only two days of the week and then you work out and be healthy every other day, you’re living two completely separate lives. Some people like to call that type of routine in life a “weekend Christian”. You need to set aside time for God and make sure you’re putting Him in front of ‘Exercise routines’ and focusing on being healthy. You need to make sure that God is your number one priority in life, not trying to loose weight.”
So you’re saying set aside time for God, how can girls do that?
“Well as an example, watching TV could be something that you can do after spending time with God, like a reward. If you have time for TV you have for God right? So the key is just jump right into spending time with God. The longer you take to do the more times you keep putting it off. So yeah!
You have to find your own time that works for you.”
Thank you Annika for your time, I'm keen to see how people benefit from your advice!
Can you list Three Priorities in your life?
"Okay this isn't in order, family and friends, God, well having a good relationship with God. Being someone that can be there for my friends or family if they ever need it."
What advice would you give to girls wanting to dress stylishly?
"Well everyone has a different style so my advice would be to wear clothes that express who you are and aren't influenced by other people, like that's just clothes that people would explain as you."
Where do you go when you seek advice?
"I go to seek advice from either my family my friends God or my sister."
Who do you most aspire to be like in life one day?
"Okay, this is gonna sound super cheesy, I have two people not in order but they are Ariana Grande and Meryl Streep. Ariana is someone I aspire to be like because no matter how many haters she's got out there she just keeps on going and she makes music that is out of this era, kind of, but she like does it anyway because that's what she likes to do. Meryl is because she is an amazing actress which I hope to be one day and all the characters she has played hasn't changed her own character."
Is there anyone in your life that you look to as a role model?
"My mom because she is so supportive of like everything I do. Even if she doesn't think it’s the right thing she’ll still like be supportive of it. My dad because he isn't afraid of saying what he wants to say and being a complete idiot in public . . . like seriously an idiot hah. And my sister because she’s always there when I need to talk to her. She’s also very good at school and I think that’s something that I can learn from her.
Who would you say is the biggest influence in your life?
Not specifically, but all my friends. For example, Rachel and Tahlia, because like with Tahlia, she’s such an inspiration to me, because she’s gone through so much, but she’s still so strong and still laughing. Rachel because like I often don’t know what to say, like I can’t just say what I think to people but Rachel can say what she’s thinking and she can stand up for herself and other people and I find that really hard so like I want to be influenced by her.”
Do you have any guidelines/rules in your life? Or do you go with the flow?
“I’m normally a go with the flow person but I’m trying to be healthy. I’m planning a healthy diet for myself and a workout plan, but it’s so hard! At the beginning it’s always hard, but at the moment, I’m just trying to stick to that.”
A lot of girls do want to go on a diet, like no matter what the reason is. What do you think the main reason is that girls want to go on a diet?
“I’m just going to say it straight up, I think they want to be skinny and comfortable with themselves. Everybody does, but I think some girls can take it too far then it becomes a problem and that’s when there needs to be a line between being healthy and pushing yourself too far that it becomes unhealthy.”
How do you think girls can determine where that line is? How far is too far?
“Well you just need to know what you are doing. If you are exercising every day, that’s not bad. If you’re eating less than 3 meals a day, that’s when you cross the line.”
So you’re saying still eat a good diet and exercising regularly? So don’t stop eating to get thin?
“Yes, exactly! Another way that you can tell if you’re crossing the line is when you start counting calories. That can become an obsession and I’m saying this from personal experience. If you become really set on something and you work out every day and count every calorie that you eat and burn, you can lose weight really quickly and it may sound good, but it can become really bad . . . you may even end up being hospitalized.”
So when you think of girls these days trying to lose weight, have a good self-image and still maintain a relationship with God, what advice can you give them?
“Well, being healthy is a choice that you are making, being a Christian is also a choice that you are making. They are all choices that you are making. If you’re working out every day, but not reading the Bible/Spending time with God every day, you’re worshiping exercise, not God anymore. So you need to watch what you are doing, you need to be aware of what you’re worshiping, you make think you are worshiping God at youth or Sundays at church, but that’s only two days of the week and then you work out and be healthy every other day, you’re living two completely separate lives. Some people like to call that type of routine in life a “weekend Christian”. You need to set aside time for God and make sure you’re putting Him in front of ‘Exercise routines’ and focusing on being healthy. You need to make sure that God is your number one priority in life, not trying to loose weight.”
So you’re saying set aside time for God, how can girls do that?
“Well as an example, watching TV could be something that you can do after spending time with God, like a reward. If you have time for TV you have for God right? So the key is just jump right into spending time with God. The longer you take to do the more times you keep putting it off. So yeah!
You have to find your own time that works for you.”
Thank you Annika for your time, I'm keen to see how people benefit from your advice!