I am very grateful for my mother this morning. Coming home has been a very...shocking experience? I've been living in the middle of the Middle East for the past 9 weeks and coming back to a place where girls boobs are falling out all over the place, people are making out in a public park, and it is raining outside, has been quite the culture shock. Combined with the fact that I came from a culture where it seems that every question was answered with the phrase, "as you like" to a family reunion that could rival the soapiest soap opera. I am a little overwhelmed and drama overloaded. I am going back to my singles ward this afternoon. That is also a bit terrifying for me. I can't help it. Large groups of social people kind of make me a bit nervous.
Last night my mother gave me some advice that she felt important to give me. When I started swimming competitively eons ago I had a swim coach named Dan. "Dan the man" we used to call him. At one of my first meets he asked me what I wanted to do with my swimming. I was 9, I said, "go to the Olympics". He told me that was possible if I was willing to do what he said. Along with obviously working very hard I was told to go to every swimming meet I could attend and do every event I was allowed to do. I did. I did everything. I was going to every meet that I knew about and always swimming the maximum number of events. I did every kind of event I could. I never made it to the Olympics, my goals changed, but I did do exactly what he told me. Because of that, I had the physical freedom to do any event that I wanted really well. I didn't have any kind of specialty event until one was picked for me in high school.
My mother compared my current state to my experience as a 9 year old. What do I want? When I think about my goals I need to decide what things I truly want. If that is truly what I want then I need to follow Dan's advice.
I need to go to every event that I am invited to, take every opportunity I can, work harder than I ever have before and follow every impression that I am given.
If I do that, I will not only reach my goals, but reach them as a person well-rounded and prepared for whatever comes my way.
My mother is a very wise person.
So there is my goal. Let's see how it goes.
1 comment:
She is, and you are wise to heed her advice. You are a smart and strong girl Alison, in so many ways. You will do and ARE doing a fantastic job. It is not easy and it never stops, but you get everything out of life that you put into it. We are proud of you.
~bigdntine
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