So, it’s been one year.
One year of fundraising.
One year of buying tons of expensive gear.
One year of meeting new, crazy people.
One year of making crazy memories.
One year of panicking about how I am gonna leave my family and friends behind.
One year of mentally preparing to go through what God has planned for me.
One year of receiving encouragement from everyone I know.
One year of constantly repeating myself on where I am going, how much I have to raise, and what I will be doing.
One year of taking a leap of faith, into the unknown.
I still remember getting the call that I was accepted and I remember crying. I remember walking back into school after the wedding rehearsal I had left for.
I remember walking into my friend Casey’s arms, and telling her I was accepted. I cried my eyes out in the middle of the hallway as we jumped up and down and screamed. People kept asking what was wrong and all I could say was “I GOT INTO THE WORLD RACE”.
Some days, I find myself lacking that joy. I find myself wishing I was home, in my own bed (NOT having to share a pullout couch with my girl Rachel). I wish I was using a toilet that didn’t occasionally teeter and not shower in a shower that drenches the floor every time we turn it on. I find myself wishing that I just had 5 minutes of air conditioning. I find myself longing for the community I have back home.
But today I was reminded that I have a joy here as well. Some days I forget where I am and what I am doing. But as I remembered this today, after some of the hardest days I have been through on the race emotionally and mentally, I felt that joy again.
I have to remind myself to live where my feet are. To find joy where I am and in the circumstances I am in. I have to remember that this is what I have wanted to do for a year now.
So, in honor of the first year of me being “on” the Race, I am gonna try to find that joy in each and every day. Some days, I recognize that it is gonna be harder than the others. Some days, I am gonna wanna give up and just melt into a puddle of tears and emotions. But I want to strive to find that joy that I know will be there, because I am living in the presence of God.
So I want to challenge you all back home (or wherever this blog finds you), to try to find joy in the little things. Write it down. I brought a planner along with me so I can write down something that made me happy or brought me joy in every day. Some days I forget and there is no shame in that. But I want to pursue joy, and I would love it if you would join me.
There are only 7.5 months left of me being on the race and I want to live them to the fullest.
It has been a great first year, living the race life, but I wanna make this next year an even better one.
Psalm 47:1
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”
