As you boil an egg, the water causes the proteins uncurl and form new bonds with each other in the albumen, egg white, and yolk. The albumen becomes rubbery and protects the yolk from breaking when you crack the egg shell. Consider this metaphor: your true identity is the represented by the yolk and the proteins are your personality/ character. If you surround yourself with positive influences your personality and character will bond together, building self-confidence and helping you getting closer to opening your shell- without breaking your true identity. Most people show find the confidence to share their personalities with each other but find it harder to admit when they are wrong and need to be held accountable. We need to dig deeper than the shell and egg white and hold each other accountable for the true identity, the magic behind the action and where the changes happen. My life can be summed up in three eggs: educational/ occupational health, physical well-being and spiritual fitness.
Being in the field of education has shown me how important it is to keep yourself accountable for your actions. My cooperating teacher has opened her classroom up and allowed me to test the waters of teaching. This 12 week program allows for student teachers to work their way up to full responsibility- complete control of the students. Working up to the full responsibility, we are given more and more control until alas the classroom is ours. In the weeks prior the cooperating teacher could fill in the gaps. Full responsibility has shown me that teaching requires work and dedication to the students, curriculum and classroom. Through the scaffolding support provided by the CT the student teachers are equipped to stand on their own two feet in front of the classroom but are still held accountable by the cooperating teachers throughout the process. There were some days that I struggled with maintaining control of the classroom and another teacher had to step in and help, keeping me accountable for my time in the classroom. As hard as it was for me to swallow my pride and ask for help I am very grateful because the results have been so rewarding. I have now earned the students respect, learned more about myself and realize that I can ask for help and they are more than willing to go out of their way to ensure that I succeed.
Staying in the best shape and eating healthy isn’t always the easiest thing to do. I tried to do it on my own and work out every day but that didn’t last very long. The behavior change started to happen when I had a group to hang out with who would expect and showed me that they want me to be there. The trainers who lead the camp only want the best for us and ask us about how we eat and why we missed a workout. Although I’ve never been too unhealthy it’s always nice to have the extra push and people to hold me accountable to show up and eat right. In the past my ideal morning routine would include a workout of sorts before starting my day, I’d write it down in my planner and set my alarm to wake up early enough. Truth be told, I hardly ever followed through with the plan- the lack of energy/motivation seemed to be more powerful than the desire to be fit and healthy and without anyone keeping me accountable it was harder to jumpstart working out. I tried holding myself accountable by signing up for races months in advance, giving me plenty of time to work up towards the distance. I did this twice but the accountability to work out and train along the way failed and I didn’t perform as well as I had wanted to on race day, nor did I reap as many benefits from spontaneously running. Once I realized that this plan wasn’t working I decided to not allow myself to sign up for any more races until I can run at least 75% of the distance and was well on my way to being able to run the whole way. I haven’t successfully followed through with this plan yet but it will happen. My goal is to run at least a half-marathon before I leave in July. Although running long distance hasn’t been my focus, I know I am closer to achieving this goal because of the being held accountable to show up to workouts.
It is important to keep your own actions in check and not rely on others to be constantly watching you, but support systems are nice and helpful in times of need. Friends and family members not only keep us company but are also there to help keep our lives on track. Through the world race and the family that I’ve found they have shown me how easy and beneficial it is to open up with each other. Last night during a video hang out someone asked how they could pray for me and weren’t satisfied with the surface request of fundraising, encouraging me to open up and share my need to be held accountable in my spiritual life. Just as Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4 how important it is to build spiritual strength and stamina we need to surround ourselves with those who will have a positive influence on our spiritual walk with Him. An excerpt, found in Galatians 6: 1-5, from Paul’s letter to the church of Galatia sums it up perfectly: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
As we dig deeper and start peeling the shell, it is imperative that we have been submerged in positive influences and our character and self-confidence have been strengthened before our yolks, containing our true identities, are compromised too easily. The rubbery texture of the egg white not only allows you to grow stronger but also better protects your identity and core values. But if you try to peel an egg that hasn’t been boiled the yolk is immediately exposed and is no longer protected, it is imperative that you make sure that you are surrounded by people who will help you grow and become a better person. Who you are surround yourself with shape and influence the taste and outcome of your personality and character, be aware of your surroundings and influences.
Updates: In order to help raise the funds for the World Race I am planning on selling two items:
a) Bracelets via Threads of Hope. Half of the funds help support my trip and the other half benefits families and children in need in the Philippines; bracelets will be sold for $2 a piece or 3 for $5.http://threadsofhope.com.ph/fundraiser.htm
b) T-SHIRTS!!! I’m stoked about the shirts, the globe below will be printed on the front left chest, and the other image will be located on the top-center on the back of the shirt, images and dimensions can be seen below the photo album.
Front: Left chest; Dimensions: 3.5″wide x 3.25″tall
Back: Top, centered; Dimensions: 10.25″wide x 6.5″tall
