Most reading this already know this but, for those who don’t I’m an only child so sharing my space is not something I ever really had to do. I really thought this year was going to be a struggle being with people nonstop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The crazy thing is I’ve loved it; I missed out on what it was like to have siblings and now I’m getting my very real dose of that reality with my sisters in Christ.
The number one lesson I have learned through it is community is what you make it! If I had written this month three of the Race when the Lord was really breaking me down, it would have sounded completely different; my guess would be with a ton more negatives than positives. Don’t get me wrong, there are things you do have to fight for when living in community with 6 other people, but your attitude about it is what makes the difference. The second lesson I learned quickly is you can’t make assumptions, your “norms” are not everyone else’s and if you don’t communicate what you’re accustomed to or listen to what others are, you will find yourself frustrated very quickly. We all come from completely different backgrounds and upbringings so there is bound to be some difference in opinions on what living in close quarters should look like.
In a perfect world, all 6 of you have the same idea of cleanliness, time for going to bed, time you wake up, ways to relax, discipline with reading your bibles, interests, and even like the same types of food, music, and movies. However, in case you haven’t noticed lately we live in a far from perfect world and all of those things being simply alike are a very unlikely reality. Things will bother you and there will be times where in order to get alone time you have to face a wall with your headphones in and pretend.
Community living is not an extended fun filled slumber party . . .
but, it can be!
Which is how it feels a lot of the time with our team. There are a ton of moments we have stopped what we’ee doing to appreciate how nice it is to feel like we are just hanging out with roommates back home doing normal life together. There are so many more positives and happy memories associated with community living than negative, if you allow that to be your mindset. Your attitude is truly everything.
I asked some of the girls I am with this month what their favorite thing about living in community is, and this is what they said:
- You’re never bored; there is always someone to talk to, play cards with, watch a movie with, or go on a walk and explore with.
- You’re surrounded by people who want to honestly bring the best out in you. Spending so much time with someone they’re not just going to say what you want to hear. They will call you up in love and tell you what your blinders can’t see. If you allow them to speak through your pride you will grow spiritually and in your character.
- There are always people praying for you. Our team puts up pieces of paper with our individual prayer requests and every time someone prays for it they circle it. Its a nice feeling not only knowing the people around you care but, getting to actually see how many more times your prayers are being fought for makes you feel so loved.
- The benefit of everyone coming from different upbringings, backgrounds, and ages is that you have so much wisdom, knowledge, and experiences accessible to you.
- You’re kept accountable for the goals you set. On our team we take the first Thursday of the month to discuss the goals we have set for the month, write them down in a place we can all see them, and then do a weekly check in. Its nice to know you’re not alone in what you want to do and are surrounded by people who care enough to push you.
- You don’t need to be good at everything! Someone else’s strengths will balance out your weaknesses. If you don’t like to cook its likely someone else does. You’d rather not clean a bathroom? You’re all good because someone else doesn’t mind. There are always helping hands and people around you willing to pitch in to make things happen.
Living in community has changed my outlook on many things. When I moved out for college, I moved into my own apartment because I didn’t want to do the “roommate thing”. When I moved back to Florida, same thing I found comfort living alone in a 1 bedroom apartment. I was never open to the idea of having a roommate and only planned on living with my future husband but, the Race has opened my eyes to all of the things I would continue to give up with that thought process.
