Every trip, program, or summer job I had during my college years I was the youngest or one of the youngest. This past year I was the oldest. I didn’t like being the oldest. I liked being the young one. The younger “sister” is always more wild and free. The average age of F squad was probably 24. I found myself thinking, “When you are my age, you will understand.” I am too young for those thoughts! My college stories were not coming to me as quick as they used to, instead “when I was 25 years old stories” or “when I was 30” stories were much easier to recall.
During our last week together I had an opportunity to share with my squad. Here are my 34 random thoughts that I shared with them. In honor of my age- 34-, and yes, these are very random. They are in honor of conversations, observations, and prayers that I had throughout the last year.
Enjoy!
- Even though I was asked if I was the Clermonts’ mother-in-law, Haley’s mother and with Molly Bell referred to as “Old Molly”… I loved being your older sister this year.
- If you want to do something, make it happen. Do not wait around for others to make it happen for you. You take the lead and invite others to join you.
- People love to feel included and invited. Practice hospitality.
- It’s okay to not follow the “American plan” for life. Listen to the Lord, read your Bible and pray everyday…that is the plan you need to follow.
- Please do not grind at dance functions. Join the grass roots effort to dance nice.
- Yes, have standards in serious dating relationships, but it never hurts to meet someone. If someone asks you out and you think to yourself, “they are not my type,” “I don’t know if they are a Christian,” “I don’t know if I like them”… that is the point of a date: to get to know someone. Once you get to know them, please use your judgment and discernment, but before it gets to that point, enjoy the company, tell the person about Jesus if they don’t know him, take the opportunity to learn something new about yourself and about another person. Plus, you never know who their friends are.
- Do not forget please and thank you. Thank you goes a long way in the work place, in families, in dating relationships, with friends…make sure people know their efforts were noticed and appreciated.
- Voice your preference. If someone asks you where you would like to eat dinner, what movie you want to go to, what you would like to do on an off day…state your preference. Your preference might not be chosen but it needs to be voiced.
- Make a decision. Do not always say maybe or might. Say yes or no. You can always change your mind, but others need to know they can count on your participation or not.
- Laugh at yourself. Life is too short to take yourself so seriously. God has such a great sense of humor.
- Single men: don’t forget the single ladies at weddings. Ask them to dance. It drives me nuts at weddings when the single men do not ask the single ladies to dance… you are not asking them to marry you or even talk to you, you are just asking for a dance.
- Single ladies: if a man asks you to dance at a wedding- don’t be weird. Accept the offer and enjoy the dance. It is okay if the man is 30 years older than you, he is the bride’s nephew or some other random guy there… it is just a dance … enjoy it.
- Take advantage of opportunities that come your way and do not stress about the ones that don’t.
- Don’t forget to wear your retainer. Retainer Tuesday Forever! You paid or your parents paid a lot of money for you to have straight teeth-pay homage.
- If you taught during the race you have a glimpse of the daily life of an American teacher. On top of teaching and classroom management, you also have lesson planning according to certain standards and documents, staff meetings, daily duties at school, parent e-mails and meetings, extra-curricular activities, department meetings with the principal, etc. So when your children are in school, be nice to their teachers.
- If you go out to lunch, dinner, coffee with a friend…be present and do not be on your phones. Think of how you want to use Internet at home. Don’t let it take the place of one on one conversations and time in person.
- You may have had people on your team that were hard to love at times, but you still did, don’t forget that is how you should love your family and co-workers too!
- Get to know your neighbors wherever you live.
- Support ministries whether by prayer, volunteering or financial. Pick one ministry and support it well.
- If you are feeling lonely, out of place, left out in a group, think of a way to bless someone in that group. Find a way to participate.
- I love hymns!
- Am I a volunteer or a missionary?
- (God) Who do you want me to love for you today?
- (God) What am I thankful for today?
- (God) What do I need to repent for today?
- (God) Was I generous today?
- (God) Am I living a life that is worth Jesus dying on the cross for?
- (God) Is this the most loving way to do life?
- (God) Am I loving my neighbor and my God by living where I live, driving what I drive, by talking how I talk?
- My 30th birthday was my favorite and one of my favorite years of life!
- On your birthday think about what God wants for you in this year of life-if you like themes- have a theme for the year.
- Did I make time for my loved ones today?
- Sign-up for a program, class, speaker… anything that looks interesting! If you have time, you never know what a program can do… what opportunities you can have! Thank you World Race program!
- When you turn 34- have a moment- reflect! I think of what my race would have looked like at 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and now. It would have been so different!!!!! So just have a moment for me.
Much love to my dear F squad!
(This is the first of the finale blog series.)
