Y-Squad, you asked & here are my answers! Thanks for asking such thoughtful, intentional questions. I hope that my thoughts and experiences are helpful to you during this time of preparation!
From Andrea: I’d like to know what are the thing you did before and on the race that you are glad you did and would recommend us doing-it can be fun activities, spiritual, etc.
As I reflect back on how I prepared for my original Race, there are so many things that I would have done differently. I spent the time between Training Camp and Launch riddled with anxiety– “Am I going to meet my fundraising goals?” “How much personal money do I need?” “How many shirts is too many?” I worked nearly every moment possible, trying to save money and most of my spare time was spent endlessly stalking blogs and trying to figure out how to pack perfectly. If I could go back in time, I would tell my pre-launch self to take a deep breath and enjoy the process. I did my part with fundraising (sent support letters, had follow-up conversations, held events) and I should have just trusted that the Lord would be faithful, because He was. And, I would tell that pre-launch Heather that I could read all of the packing blogs in the world and still bring at least one thing that I’d wished I hadn’t (hello wireless Kindle keyboard!) and would be lacking something that I wished I’d included.
I’d tell my pre-launch self that the spiritual rhythms I’d developed at home would easily carry over into the Race. So that deep breath would have helped me here, too. In the first two months of my Race, the Lord had to do a reconnecting work between my head and my heart because I’d been living a compartmentalized life. I’d spent a lot of time knowing that I was excited for the Race but not really letting myself feel it. Sure, I was journaling and I was in the Word but I wasn’t truly inviting the Lord to invade my space. I’ve learned that the Lord is not a bull in a China shop but a gentleman who most often waits for the invitation.
With all of that being said, there were some things that I did well! One of the things that I’m most grateful for from my time between Training Camp & Launch was my Home Bucket List. I made a list of people that I really hoped to have time with and activities that I really wanted to participate in before leaving the country and tried to make them happen. It was a really valuable way to live intentionally during my time at home.
I’d also recommend saying “yes” A LOT on the Race. There are so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that will arise during the next year of your life and sometimes it can feel overwhelming and exhausting to do one more thing or be around one more person. I’d urge you to make the most of those chances and consciously decide how you’re going to engage with the experience. And, if you choose to say “no” to something, do so without regret. If you miss out on something really cool, walk through the process of grief but then let it go. Don’t let a mistake or a missed opportunity dictate your experience for the whole month.
From Lindsay: My current struggle is do I want to bring my iPad or not? I’m probably bringing my deactivated phone as a camera, so other than that it’d be my only technology for blogging or skyping my bro, but I want to stay connected and not have anything valuable with me. Lol help!
This is a great question & has been quite a hot topic (check out the conversation here http://www.sethbarnes.com) Personally, I am not anti-technology but I am pro-self awareness. If you get the sense that technology is something you typically use to escape or avoid, I think that this is a great opportunity to limit your technology use. I know that I cherish the pictures & blogs that I have from my Race but I have regrets about the hours that I spent binge-watching Downton Abbey by myself rather than pushing into that extra hard month. One of the most challenging and most beautiful things about the Race is this concept of abandonment. In some instances, abandonment is kind of thrust upon you but often (especially with technology), it’s going to be something that you’re going to have to choose. No matter how you slice it, you just aren’t going to be able to have the exact same kind of relationship with loved ones over the next 11 months. Will you have opportunities to connect with people from home? Of course! But set yourself up for success to really connect with your squad and your team and the people you come in contact with in real life. I’d say that just bringing your phone will be enough. If it’s an iPhone, it’s capable of the same things as your iPad, just lighter and smaller (win-win!). I think you’ll be happier with less to carry but still some way to connect with people from home when needed.
From Matthew & Kristen: We are not sure if we should bring a passport holder (like a fanny pack under the clothes sort of thing or something else). Thoughts?
I brought one but really didn’t use it much at all. This time around, I’m planning to bring either a fanny pack or a small cross-body purse. I think it’s the same concept but just something I’ll get a lot more use out of. It might be a good idea for guys to invest in one of the under the clothes sort of passport holder, though.
There are some answers for the first few questions! Over the next couple of days, I’ll be posting a blog about the biggest question: What in the WORLD do I pack????
