Re-entry is like a World Race packing blog, one size DOES NOT fit all. Some people transition back home very easily, others are still trying to figure out how 3 months later. It is okay (I’m preaching this to myself as I type)! We were each made in the image of God, unique and to process the way each of us needs. It’s okay if your squadmate can walk through Walmart without crying, or host the Christmas party the next day! It’s okay if you can’t step foot in the store you loved pre-race, or have a tough time entering back into social situations! It is okay, but you don’t have to stay that way!
I’ll be back home in about 24 hours. My squad landed back in the US exactly 10 days ago. I on the other hand chose to spend some time with 3 really amazing squadmates of mine, and have loved every minute of it. But now I’m sitting here awake thinking about what awaits two plane rides away. Just thought I’d share in case someone else was in the same boat!
Prepare yourself for situations at home:
I am processing different scenarios that I can expect when I get home. What it’ll be like being greeted at the airport and driving home. What it’ll be like walking into my house/bedroom. What it’ll be like grabbing food with my friends. What it’ll be like sharing this amazing journey I’ve been on. What it’ll be like arriving back home to people who are now gone that sent you off less than a year ago. These scenarios are not to set expectations on situations, but instead to help me process what’s to come. God was with us on the WR, and He’s with us as we transition back home.
Give yourself grace:
God gives it abundantly to you, so give it to yourself! Your daily rhythms may be different than the race, give yourself grace and make new ones! You may not be adjusting back as well as you’d hoped (or like your squadmates are). Well one comparison is the thief of joy 😉 and two, give yourself grace and process at your own pace. Allow yourself the time YOU need to do things. We typically are more gracious to other people than we our to ourselves. When things get challenging, ask yourself how you’d react if it was someone else, and act in that same way towards yourself!
Reach out to people, don’t isolate:
Lies have been eating me apart this past hour. Fears I had on the race about coming back the same person I left as, that this was the best my life will ever be, or lies about community. DO NOT SIT IN THESE LIES. Speak truth over them right away. Do not give them a chance to take root in you! If you find yourself constantly believing the lies, reach out to a friend at home or someone from your squad! Your relationships may not look the same as they did on the race (both for your squadmates and those at home), but THEY DO CARE! Call them, message them, text them… and be patient if they don’t answer right that second 🙂
Spend time processing:
I gave myself time to process before coming home, but unfortunately I didn’t steward that time well. I personally believe AIM provided the tools and questions needed to process coming home from my race. They are worth doing, and are great, but again one size doesn’t fit all. You may need to go an extra step. That may be looking through journals, pictures, blogs, journey markers, or whatever else you have! Look back on the first hard feedback you ever gave, and see how far you’ve come by the end of the year! Take the time to go through things and process all that God has done this year!
God uses the World Race as a launching pad:
The World Race will not be the best year of your life! Why? Because He just provided you all these amazing strategies and an awesome community to continue living your best life! This year was not just a semester in college where you remember things for the final, then forget them right after. You were probably on a team that was hard to live with at times. Perfect, God provided you growth in what it looks like to fight for things when they don’t come easy! God probably broke you down in certain areas this year to build you back up to depend on Him. Continue depending on Him because He still has so much in store for you! Continue living your best life! The scenery just looks a little different than it did a year ago!
Congrats! You just graduated from the World Race. Now go out, and continue to utilize all the skills you’ve learned in the place God brings you to next. Those skills are just as vital at home as they were in the countries around the world 🙂
