Wow...just like that 2010 has come and gone. Looking back it was a decent year: the former half had it's challenges but the summer was filled with great experiences and the kick-off to junior year at Marquette was incredible. I had a wonderful fall semester and it was definitely my best yet. Although I've made some mistakes this past year, I have no regrets from 2010. In fact, that's one of my new year's resolutions: embracing my mistakes as learning opportunities instead of seeing them as failures. A majority of my life I have feared making mistakes and have developed this idea that I need to be as perfect as humanly possible, which is pretty ridiculous and darn stressful if you ask me. I've learned over the past year that mistakes are not only normal, but they're healthy and an essential part of life in order to keep growing. If you don't make mistakes, you don't learn and you don't grow. And I definitely don't want to live a stagnant life.
Don't get wrong, I'm not going to start seeking opportunities to make mistakes; rather, if mistakes happen I'm simply not going to beat myself up over them. I'm trying to adapt this philosophy as much as possible before I leave for overseas because being in a foreign country for the first time I'm bound to make mistakes. I'm excited to learn and grow and see how South Africa shapes me over the next 5 months. Granted, I'm aware it won't be all roses and daisies by any means, but can you blame a girl for being excited?
My other resolutions for 2011 are: updating this blog once a week, updating my facebook with pictures within 2 weeks of an event, and talking less in conversations by listening more. The first 2 are self explanatory but the last one might need some explaining. To clarify, it was actually my mom's resolution and I decided to join her in it but I really do like the idea. To take it a step further, there is so much in life to absorb and observe but often we are too involved in talking or rushing to our next destination to listen to the world around us. When was the last time I just sat and listened to the wind? To appreciate it's beautiful melody as it echoes in the trees. Or to sit and watch children play on the playground? To capture their innocence and re-instill it within myself. It's been too long and so I am going to take 5 minutes each day to sit and "be."
I once read a poem that was titled "Slow Dance" and the main verse was "You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last." As I spend these last 3 weeks at home, I will strive to dance slowly and fully to life's music.
Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1
With an open ear and mind,
Janelle
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