I came to a realization on Tuesday that we really do only live once. yes, my new life motto is “You Only Live Once.” This blog is going to be a compilation of ‘rules’ and ‘regulations’ I have put on my life.
don’t stop now just because I said yolo…please keep reading it gets good!!
I was riding in a chicken bus on the way to Antigua to make over 550 copies for our english class and I looked at this house we were driving past and literally told myself “Allyson, you’re traveling the world. You’re a missionary. You’re doing something you’ve always wanted to do but you never stepped outside of your normal routine to do it and look at you. You’re killing it, Queen!!” (yes, that’s how I talk to myself…)
This is something that over the last few days has taken over my thoughts. At home I was stuck in my every day routine and never went outside of that. I only drove to work, my boyfriend at the time’s house, and home— that was it. I never made time for anyone or anything else because I didn’t want to go outside of what was routine.
Over the last week or so I have reached out to some old friends that I haven’t talked to in so long because I didn’t want to sacrifice my time from my normal routine. I am now so stoked to get home in June and not have this daily routine any more. I have also reached out to friends who I have never been that close to but desire an intentional Christ-centered relationship with and will continue pursuing those relationships. I also finding myself looking at the people I follow on insta, the people I am snapchat friends with, my Facebook friends and even the contacts in my phone thinking “I really want to have an intentional relationship with this person. They’re a person who lets their life be centered on God so why have I chosen to not pursue them?” And I know that the answer is because I didn’t want to go outside my ‘norm.’
Seeing people from my high school graduating class have babies, getting engaged and getting married makes me think “well you’re too young for that.” when in reality, they’re not. I can choose what I want to do in my life and I don’t know why I still think I am too young for anything. I have accepted the fact that my best friend has indeed found the *perfect* guy for her and that she is indeed old enough to get engaged when the time is right. I have decided that it’s okay for my best friend to get married in the future. I have accepted the fact that life moves on and as we grow up we become more independent. I put myself in her shoes and think that if I had that perfect someone like she does I would tell them that I’m too young to get engaged and that I want to wait until I’m done with college when nothing says I have to put that rule on my life. If I want to get married to the correct person, then why am I telling myself I can’t?
I have a friend who landed her dream job at our church. She was so excited and I was so excited for her. Not too long after, she decided that she wanted to move to North Carolina. She left everything that was comfortable, she left her parents, her friends, her dream job just because she wanted to move! Why do I put the limitation on my life that I can’t move anywhere or make these decisions myself?? I don’t need everyones approval, I can make my own choices in life!
Often times when I am bored at home I think “wow, it would be so fun to go to Iowa City/Galena right now to just have time away but I don’t have anyone to go with me.” When in reality, I can have time to myself. I can do random things like that. Why do I allow myself to do things that make me feel contained and like I can’t get out? I need to get outside the 4 walls of my house and explore Creation!!
I CAN go to Chicago to spend a day there with friends, I CAN take a solo trip to Iowa City to have a day by myself, I CAN pick up and move to a different state, I CAN go to new restaurants— with or without people, I CAN hang out with new people, I CAN go to a school that costs more money, I CAN be a missionary, I CAN do what I want to do!!
I have always been so hesitant to go to Ohio during the summer to see one of my best friends. Why am I so hesitant? I don’t know. It could be because of the long drive, it could be because I don’t know the area where she lives as well as I would like, I just really don’t know. But what I do know is that I CAN go and spend time with her.
I literally only get to live once so why wouldn’t I move to Guatemala for a short time? Why wouldn’t I want to travel where I want to go? Why would I want to put these silly ‘rules’ on my life that don’t allow me to live life to it’s fullest? Why would the words “I can’t” be in my vocabulary???
This summer when I get home I will not allow myself to put rules and regulations on my life anymore. I will live my life for the Father like I never have before. I only get this life once so why not live it?!?!
