*ahem*— I had to add endnotes because I have ADHD and get sidetracked—
When I graduated and ended up at home the following semester, I set out to find a full time job. I found myself with a 30-hour week job watching a four-year-old boy. Even when I accepted this position, I discovered I still needed some other activity to keep me entertained, which led me to fill up my week with anything I could get my hands on. Now my average week looks a little like this: attending church, meeting with my core group, shuttling people home from Nexus (the youth group I went to in high school), volunteering as an assistant administrative assistant at an after school program, two side-jobs of once or twice a week babysitting, a young adult service, worship practice for that young adult service, picking my sister and two friends up from school, shuttling to and from nexus, volunteering at a children’s ministry, worship practice for that children’s ministry, worship practice for church, watching the Office, and attending a bible study. I spend the little free time I have working on things for world race (including visiting the gym three times a week) and doing devotions — then I try to squeeze in time with my friends…and it just doesn’t work.
As a homeschooler with easy jobs and extracurricular participation in student ministry only, I was able to put a lot of my energy into friendships. Throughout high school I even struggled with idolizing them. Oftentimes I would ask their opinions on an issue before praying about the issue. Thankfully, the Lord came flippin’ tables in my life and sent people to sass me about it until the issue was fixed.1
I am still very relationship-focused. My biological “family” is extremely broken. I tend to lean on my friends more than I lean on my biological family because we are all fighting for our relationships. Through all the stupid things we’ve done, we’re still here for each other. We’ve let God into our friendships. My friends are my family.2
World Race preparation cuts down on the time I can spend with the people close to me and makes it hard to connect with them.3 Every one of them encourages me, but it’s not the same as being a racer. In fact, the race is constantly on my mind. It’s hard for me to focus in on them when I have to write a blog, do a bracelet check, organize my fundraiser for next month, write letters, hunt for people’s addresses, purchase stamps… it feels like the list goes on and on. The more time I have set aside for race preparation, the easier it is to just relax with my friends.
Bob Goff4 has a few good habits that his frequent readers tend to follow. One of them is I Quit Thursdays. Every single Thursday, he quits something. My friend and I adopted this habit in October, but once I was accepted to the World Race, I forgot about it. Yesterday, I quit not doing I Quit Thursdays. It’s time for me to take a step back, so I am indefinitely returning to I Quit Thursdays. That includes quitting things I very much enjoy doing.. I hate quitting things! I wish I could quit quitting things forever — I always feel as if I’m disappointing people. However, I will pray each week asking Him what /He/ wants me to quit, and for the courage to do so. My acceptance turned a page in my life; I’m finally starting a new chapter.
Endnotes
1.-For those of you who don’t know me, I need the toughest of love—brutal and detailed honesty— to keep me on track.
2.-And just a side note— something I still struggle with is loving everyone as much as I love my friends. Pray for me?
3.-Thank you to every one of you who has accompanied me to the gym for training, helped with support letters, helped sell bracelets, and/or helped me budget.
4.-Author, lawyer, non-profiteer, Ugandan consul
