I want to let you all in on a not-so-secret: I’m a planner!
I love to think about the future and what it may hold. Contrary to my planning, the best happenstances have not been according to any of my plans.
I love to think about the future and what it may hold. Contrary to my planning, the best happenstances have not been according to any of my plans.
So often I/we get ideas for our life: what our job will be,
where we want to live, and when particular events will occur. Yes, I aim to
move in the general directions following interests, but I never could have
planned some of the best occurrences on my own, because I did not know they
even existed.
Can you relate? What has happened in your life that you
would not have been able to pick out or plan on your own?
As yet another year begins, I would like to reflect back on
some unexpected blessings I’m glad have happened in my life over the past year
and a half-
1.
I have a job that I love!
o
I had been declined 2 other full time corporate
wellness jobs I had been interested in in Ohio.
o
I had missed out on the 2012 HealthCorps
application while in Aus.. When I looked into applying for the following year,
HealthCorps had re-opened the applications to hire 6 more coordinators in
California.
o
I was offered a job in Northern California- in a
town I had never heard of- was at the bottom of my preference list- and I could
never have picked a better community and area to live! I love my job with
HealthCorps and all of the people I have met working with the organization, and
to top that off- I work with the most supportive high school staff that has
doubled as my California family.
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| Olympia, Rachel, Tyler, Marissa, Precious and I at HealthCorps Highway to Health Health Fair. |
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| Beautiful views of Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and Mount Shasta during a hike in my new home. |
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| My wonderful co-workers ready to enjoy a meal prepared during the final Teen Battle Chef Competition (My cooking club) |
2.
Gaining surrogate parents across the country
o
After moving across the country I could have
been completely lost had it not been for Carol and Dean. They took me in as
their own and helped me get connected with friends, a church, and a car repair
shop. They also allowed me to tag along on weekend trips, introduced me to the
school staff, fed me, let me live with them for 2 weeks, hosted my mom when she
visited, and most importantly showed me love-friendship- and an instant family
in a new distant place. Although I am technically an adult, it is comforting to
know I have Carol and Dean to look out for me while the rest of my family is
across the country.
 |
| From left to right: Brett, April, Jessica, Abby, Dean and Carol at my Homemade Italian dinner. What better company to enjoy a meal with! |
3.
Creating so many new solid friendships
o
I am lucky to have had so many great fulfilling
friendships throughout life, many lasting over 20 years! It never ceases to
surprise me when new friends enter my life filling me up even more! I am blown
away by the faith, ambitions, spirit, and dedication of the amazing friends I
have made over the past year and a half (my healthcorps friends, Nicole, Abby,
Joy and Jessica).
§
Instantly being greeted to Sacramento by
Chrissy, Isa and Rachel and having a close knit group of friends during
HealthCorps training- Olympia, Precious, Marissa, Tyler, and Kelly.
 |
| Left to right: Me, Tyler, Jessica, Chrissy, Olympia, Rachel, Joy, Ken, and Luke. A mix of HealthCorps and friends out for my Birthday dinner. |
§
Connecting with Joy who in addition to being a
co-worker at the high school has been like a big sister- connecting me with a
church and probably 90% of my friends.
§
Meeting Abby- A co-workers daughter- We became
instant friends and companions when both of us felt lost and lonely (She had
just returned from a year working in China and I 6 months in Aus. And in a new
place)- over the past year we helped support and rebuild. We’ve spent countless
weekends at coffee shops and going on little adventures.
 |
| Abby and I at Vintners Wine Cellar |
§
Meeting Jessica. Jessica is the type of person
you feel excited and uplifted around- she has a way of making you feel like
whatever you are saying is important. After a couple of months of looking for a
roommate (which lead to meeting some characters) to fill the extra bedroom in
my apartment to lighten my bills, Jessica invited me to move in with her. We
have been roommates for the past year. Our friendship is so quirky and fun
with- Grill nights, holiday celebrations a month late (to take advantage of
sales), and lots of crafting! I don’t have to pretend around her- when we ask
about each others day’s the response isn’t always “good” in an upbeat tone, but
real, raw, and true. She inspires me every day with her faith.
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| Jess, Abby and I- watching a whale swim off of shore during a trip to the Coast. |
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| Summit of Lassen with Jess and Nicole |
4.
Meeting Brett
o
After a few years of being resistant to
commitment, getting tied to anything-anywhere- or anyone, and all of that jazz
this one finally cracked me. He came out of nowhere. Well actually he came up
from behind me in a race. Two days after I had returned from Ohio for the summer
I met Brett- I was exhausted and planning not to go, but thought eh why not! After
bumping into each other at another race and the lake, he invited me to go on a
hike. An hour car ride and 4 hour hike that could have been extremely awkward-
was a blast. Almost freaky how much we had in common- we’re both originally
from Ohio, were Christian, were blessed with amazing families, had played
soccer growing up and 1 year in college, had run a marathon, loved
hiking-swimming-biking- anything and everything outdoors, had lived abroad and
loved to travel, enjoyed a good craft beer, and that doesn’t even crack into
our personalities… but what I like the most is he can put up with my oddities
(he has his own), strange dance moves, and when I get HANGRY (angry when I’m
hungry). I never could have predicted a good looking blue eyed, big dimple,
blond would race into my life… but I’m sure glad he did J
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| Top Left: Our first date/hike at Castle Crags. Top Right: I'm not so sure how it would work out if he wasn't a Buckeye fan…thank goodness he is! Bottom: Backpacking in the Trinity Alps. |
It’s a beautiful thing to give up control once in a while. I will not stop planning and dreaming for the future, but I’m learning to be resilient and accepting when my plan isn’t the best or right plan. Boy, is that hard!
My Challenge for you:
It’s easy to underestimate the power of simple thoughtful gestures, hospitality
and wonderful people. I feel blessed to have met such amazing people over
the past year. I hope I can someday pay forward all they have done for me to
someone else. Who is someone who has kept you afloat in a potentially lonely
situation? Is there someone you could take under your wing and make a
difference in?
