At a 7/11 in Malaysia, a tasty peanut butter treat on the shelf caught my eye.
Bread with peanut butter filling?! YUM!
However, when I tasted it, I was sorely disappointed.
I wanted it to be a donut, but at the end of the day, it was still just a creme filled hot dog bun.
This upset sparked a conversation about expectations. The cute little workers at the AIM office do their best to keep expectations at a minimum…by telling us nothing. However, with no information to feed off of, poor little pre-racers drive themselves crazy with "what if" scenarios. They read blog after blog, trying to paint a picture of what their year might look like. And even though us current racers, and alumni know it's a waste of time, it's still fun to remember that strange time in our lives.
So future racers, after four and a half months of being on the Race, here are a few nuggets of wisdom:
Most of your daydreams of "race life" you muster up during the months before the race will probably never come true.
Every single person on your squad will have a different race,…comparison is a dangerous habit.
Training Camp is not easy. But one night, a few months into your race, you and your teammates will find the experience something to laugh at.
You don't have to change. No one will force you, but you would be foolish to pass up the opportunity.
The travelers' life isn't always glamorous. You might get diarrhea. You might accidentally order an entree that has more eye balls that an Optometrist office. You WILL get lost.
Not everyday will be amazing, but you are in control of your reactions.
The people you thought were "a little off" after meeting them at Training Camp will probably become some of your greatest friends.
Some days, everything that you planned will fall to pieces. Embrace it, those days are usually the best.
You will read countless packing blogs…but you will still forget things, and probably pack too much.
You will catch yourself loving people more than you ever knew possible.
If you allow yourself, you will get to a point when you realize that you can't do it yourself anymore, and give it all to Him.
And finally, the one that stands true for everyone:
YOUR RACE WILL BE WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
Love without holding back.
When He tells you to speak, speak!
Get over feeling awkward.
Let go of comparisons.
Have impromptu dance parties.
Be content in the sunshine, and in the rain.
Embrace differences.
Have that deep conversation until 3 am.
Share your peanut butter.
DROP YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
