A few things I've learned...

From the good, great, YMCA Kindergarten class of '09.

- When you say the first thing that comes to your mind, it isn't always necessarily a bad thing, but you must be prepared for the reaction it brings, and also the consequences.
- I need to learn how to run up to people and just straight up body-slam hug them more often.
- Laughing simply and truly for the sake of laughing is perfectly and totally ok, and actually should be done on a regular basis.
- You need to learn how to love the things right in front of you, the things you have, rather than the things you want. If you only love the things you want, and never the things you have, you're going to spend a lot of time crying in the corner while the other kids...ackem...people have tons of fun without you.
- The best things are the free things, the simple things, like running down a big grassy hill at full speed, or swinging super super high on the swings.
- Not all decisions need to be weighed, taken apart, analyzed, pro'd and con'd, and dissected before being made...sometimes you just have to have a little faith, close your eyes, and take the leap.
- Love everyone. Even the people who seem unlove-able. Love them, too. You won't regret it.
- Love even when the risk is great. Loving, truly loving is something a person never forgets and never regrets.

From running...

- Just because it's hard doesn't mean you should stop/turn around/give up/walk
- Perfection is impossible to be obtained. In fact, perfection is quite boring because it is the end of all ends - it leaves no room for new adventures.
- Don't ever say "I can't". Courage isn't the absence of fear, but rather being terrified and doing it anyway.
- Proper preparation is the secret to success.
- Being quiet isn't a bad thing. It's in those quiet moments that God teaches you the most - especially an 80 minute long runs.
- Never surrender. Never lay down and die.
- Just because you can run really really fast coming down the hill, doesn't mean you should. If there's one hill, there's probably two, and the up-hill is always harder than the down. Save your energy for the next hill and relish the fact that you made it to the top.
- Even when the rest of the world says your crazy, do it anyway.

From some pretty cool people I've met along the way.

- Life is too short to count every morsel that goes into your mouth. Laugh, love, and dance like an idiot, and when the time comes, go ahead and have that extra slice of cake.
- You're heart is a very valuable treasure, and should only be offered to those who prove to you that they'll care for it like it's their own.
- Five year plans are boring.
- There's a stupid way and a strong way to stand up for yourself. Letting lose and yelling at a person doesn't do anything except make you look like a hot-head. Telling the truth, however, is a different story.
- God's plans are almost never your plans. Do yourself a favor, figure out God's plans and stick to those.
- Our unfaithfulness to God will never nullify His faithfulness to us.
- It's ok to hold onto some things. Not all bad memories need to be purged, but rather learned from.

A couple of extra's I've figured out about myself.

- I don't know that I could be with a guy who didn't love pizza...Chicago style, that is.
- I personify objects. I buy books who's cover is tearing off, and coffee mugs that are chipped because I feel bad for them and feel that they deserve a home too.
- I'm a weak person, but God is strong, and so it's ok to be weak.


The biggest thing I've learned...

God loves me and fills me. Amazing thins happen when I stop trying to find things to fill my life with, and let God show me all the ways He's already filled it.

My life is very, very full...full of tons and tons and tons and tons of love.

Here's to the end of old things, and to the beginning of the new.