11 Tips to help me transition when I get home
1. Invite me places: I think one of the most common things racers fear is that a year away has allowed people at home the opportunity to forget about you. Even if it seems small like just going to the grocery or for a walk, ask me to go with you. Intentionality is a big thing we have lived with for the past 11 months and it will mean more than you know.
2. Have grace when I freak out especially about prices: I can tell you that I am used to living on $5/day for food and in most countries I would have money left over. I had a dress handmade in Africa for $12 and I’m used to bartering for whatever I want. So have grace when I gasp and gawk at how much a meal/drink is or when I first look at the prices for clothes in Target ( I’ll also probably be crying in the dollar section) or when I can’t talk the waiter down from $10 for my burger to $3. It will happen I promise you.
3. Let me have introvert time: I am an extrovert through and through but on this race I have learned that everybody needs their quiet time to process and spend with God. I really love journaling and worshiping. I am going to need the time and space to continue to do these things and keep my soul spiritually healthy.
4. Ask me how I am processing coming home: I am an external processor and will need to talk about coming home. It’s overwhelming, scary, and excitement all wrapped into one. I have a tendency to not process out loud if I feel like I will be a burden so let me know it’s ok. Be prepared that I will probably cry and talk a lot but know that you are helping me each time you ask.
5. Take me to your favorite restaurants: I can tell you that the number one thing that racers talk about most is good ole’ food from back home. It’s been a year since we have seen Taco Bell/Chipotle/Q’doba or probably been served a good meal in a restaurant. So take me to those places because if there is food, conversation and people involved then it’s probably my ideal place to be.
6. Catch me up on what’s happened in your life: We racers are very used to talking and processing pretty much every facet of our lives. I don’t want to ask those questions to people at home and get the standard “it was good”. I probably want to hear more about your year than you do mine so talk my ear off. Tell me everything that happened in great detail even if they seem small and insignificant to you! Fair warning, I will listen and probably ask a million questions.
7. Don’t treat me any different: This is probably my biggest fear coming home. People think that just because I have been gone for a year serving the Lord and being a “super” Christian (whatever that means) that I don’t still like to do all the things I did before. I have grown and learned and changed but I’m still the same person. I may talk a little different (#racelingo) and look a little different (#tattoosinthailand) but I’m still the same Kelly you knew 11 months ago. I promised to let you know how I have changed so that you don’t have to be in the grey area on that.
8. Ask me what I’m currently learning from Scripture: I have spent the last year reading and studying the Word but I would be lying if it’s not something that I still put off. I can find a lot of other things to do to connect with God besides reading Scripture but this is an essential part of my spiritual walk. So ask me what I’m reading or learning or offer to read/study a book with me.
9. Go do classic American things with me: baseball games, barbecues, concerts, country music, colts games, lake weekends. DO THESE WITH ME! If there is anything that I have missed the most other than family and friends, it’s America. My pride for my country has grown two fold since I have been away and I want to immerse myself back into American culture just as I have with the last 11 cultures I have been in. Even if I didn’t do the things before I left, if it has to do with America, I will probably be down in a heartbeat.
10. Spend time with me: I have lived in constant community 24/7 for the past 11 months. While I have craved being alone a lot of this race, community is something I love and cherish deeply. It will be a big transition to not have people around me all the time, so just spend time with me whenever you can. We don’t have to do anything or even talk but it will help me to transition back into life at home easier if people are around me.
11. Go do adventurous things/travel with me: Before the race, I never would have considered myself a adventurous/wandering spirit, but now I feel as though this is something that is deeply rooted in my soul. I have learned more about myself through traveling/adventuring than I ever would have 11 months ago. So if I ask you to go on an adventure and you can, go with me. Suggest places we could travel to and start saving money for. Dream with me on big adventures and places to visit.
4 days until I’m home! 4 days!
