Speaking of Reflection

Today at Church many of the talks and lessons centered around reflecting on the past year. What's weird is that I completely forgot people do that. Reflect that is. I had taken a few minutes in passing to reflect on the past semester, and thought about a specific class while walking to campus one day. But I hadn't really taken a step back to really think about it all--this past year. Wow. 2011. What have I really learned? So, I took a minute during Church today to get lost in my own thoughts. Its really quite easy in a Spanish ward, just stop translating for one minute and suddenly you're in a world all of your own. Apologies Obispo.

So, here's a small window as to what I found important this year:
School-- its important. This past year I crossed from the blissed ignorance of a Freshman and became an esteemed college Sophomore. My knowledge has obviously grown exponentially.

I also got my very first, real life, full-fledged job this year. Okay, so it was part-time and at a preschool. But it was still very official.

I live in an apartment now. Sometimes, I stop and realize that I'm living a grown-up life. Sometimes I'll go to class, pay rent, send a letter, make lunch, make dinner, relax, call my parents, and study---all in one day. Nobody even reminded me to eat my vegetables, I just ate them. All by myself.

I took a student development class this past semester that taught me a lot about myself. I learned this year that I need to communicate better with people. I need to communicate with love, and care, and tenderness. I'm still working on this one, probably always will be.

I said good-bye to a countless number of friends as they left for missions this year. They are serving all around the world on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their letters home are inspiring. Their stories, paired with other experience I've had this past year, have led me to consider serving a mission more heavily.

This semester my schedule actually allowed me to call home at reasonable hours. I loved having the opportunity to talk with my family more, and realize the important role they play in my life more than ever.

I also realized the important of friendship, especially the friendship I share with my roommates. I have learned so much from them and other friends this past semester.

And gratitude. I've realized (and not by myself) how important gratitude is. To show and to live a life of gratitude. To give thanks, to share, to love. What important life long lessons, that I'm sure I'm only beginning to learn.

This is life folks, we're living it. Here's just a snip-bit of my past year. Writing this ramble of a blog post has really led me reflect on the past year and make goals (or at least seedlings of goals) for next year.

I might make some changes to how this blog is run next year. So, stay tuned!