Hello. It's me.
We're reviving the blog. I know what you are thinking... "Ummm hello? Your mission is over. What are you doing?" And honestly I am thinking the same thing... Like I don't have some disease, fashion advice, amazing travel itinerary, hair tips or cute kids to blog about so what qualifies me for this? Honestly nothing. The answer is that I have realized something about myself: I love words.
I loved writing my mission letters each week. I loved having that time to really reflect back on the week and share an itsy bitsy teeny weenie bit of my massive plate of spaghetti thoughts and things I have been learning. So I'm going to try this again. More therapeutic for me than anything.. (plus I have really become a slacker in the journal department lately so I figure its time to get off my lazy boot-ay and give you a little word vomit to work with) Ready for this? Okay.
One thing that no one really tells you about is the whole adjusting to real life stuff after the mission thing. Sure you hear about people wearing their suits to bed or telling "on my mission stories" every two seconds or playing just dance and feeling like a sinner, listening to efy music for the next 30 minutes to bring the spirit back.... What you haven't heard of that one? Weird... So yeah. Lots of weirdo RM stuff like that but let's get down to the nitty gritty. (If you just read that in a Nacho Libre voice you can feel free to submit a best friend application)
No one tells you about how you become a totally different person and that you have to actually get to know that person. Her likes. Her dislikes. How she acts at parties. What her priorities are. Her spiritual depth. Who she wants to be when she grows up. What she likes to do. How she feels loved. Who her friends are. If she likes mayonnaise on her burger. (Actually that one didn't change much. I still hate mayo) I honestly thought I was pretty much the exact same person and it has taken me almost 9 months of being home to realize that maybe there is more to this adjustment then just learning to talk to boys without name tags normally.
So all you mission adjusters. Here are my tips and then I'll leave you alone for a bit until I find something else I feel like telling the world. Aka:probably tomorrow.
1. Make lists. Think of all of the things you learned on your mission. Maybe even set a timer for 5 minutes and just write as fast as you can like you used to do in elementary school? And then think of ways to apply those same things in a non missionary way. Works like a charm.
2. Surround yourself with meaningful relationships. People who want to change and be better and talk about the things you are learning about yourself. Its amazing how much the companion thing really helps you out and how much you will miss that.
3. Find your purpose. Something you can put your whole heart and soul into just like you did as a missionary. Heavenly Father really helps you out on that one so say a few prayers and he will push you in the right direction.
4. Turn outward. Its so crazy how you come from literally only thinking about others to the most selfish time in your life. There are a billion "me" things-- what classes am I going to take? What am I going to do with my life? Me me me. Its all about me. But as we know... Its not. And it becomes a lot harder to remember that... but that doesn't mean we can't do it. Write thank you notes. Call a friend. Bring people cookies. (Eat a few) Mow someone's lawn. Give a hug. Even if all you can do to look outward that day is smile at the lonely boy in your math class. Its really not that hard. Even in the midst of those stay-up late-live-on-ramen-I-am-going-to-fail-this-test moments. Trust me. I have been there.
5. Don't live in your mission. There is so much more to life! Use what you have learned to propel you forward and truly live a beautiful life.
We have the power and ability to change. That is what we are here on earth to do. Thank heavens we made it through the braces, middle part, cracky voice stage. Am I right? So don't stay the same. Change. Develop. Grow. Slowly but surely becoming a better you today than you ever were as a missionary. Life just keeps getting better and better.
Ready or not here we come.
