Looking Back; Moving Forward

This is the time of year that causes everyone to stop and think back on the past year. They tend to be all nostalgic as they look back on all of the things that they did or didn't do. They think about their failed attempts at that New Years Resolution they swore they'd follow through on. They remember the times they took a chance on something crazy, or maybe the times that they regret not taking a leap of faith. They look at all of the people that they've lost in their lives, remember the new friends and family they've welcomed into their lives with open arms, and they recall the ones they've welcomed back in after a brief (or long) hiatus. Whatever it is that you're doing tonight, I hope that it involves you looking back at the growth that you've experienced over the last year. I've said it once, and I'll say it again...Each day just seems like a day when you're living it, but 365 typical days add up and have a tendency to change your life forever. Sometimes those changes happen gradually, other times those changes take place over a very short period of time after a very big life event takes place. So, I thought maybe I'd join in as usual and share some of my wisdom from the year 2013!

In 2013:

• I learned that Italian is nothing like the French language..and you in fact, canNOT just add ici, or no/na to a French word to make it "Italian"
• Yes, I did in fact think i could get around Italy by knowing French, but the languages are   not very similar....so FAIL FAIL FAIL. "Bonjourno, My name is Maggicci" Didn't quite cut it....
• It's okay to say, "I don't know..." because, let's face it, there are a lot of things in this world that you will just not understand.
• Mexican food is terrible in Italy.....you're welcome.
• Italians dress for the season, not the weather...so if it is 80 degees outside, but it is April, they will be in pants and a sweater. And you'll look dumb in shorts and a short sleeved shirt.
• Italians also do not believe in wearing colors....they stick to the different shades of grey. The same is true for most of Europe. Excluding Spain. 
• Spanish people love wearing bold colors and patterns.
• Your sorority will constantly surprise you. Those are the times that you remember so beautifully that those letters mean more than what could ever fit on a T-Shirt
• Traveling a country learning from their history, and culture, and way of life is a MUST. You HAVE to learn that the American way of life and way of thinking is not the only way to live.
• There is a difference between not wanting to partake in activities, and judging people taking part in such activities....remember that. Refuse to take part if that is what you want to do, but do it in a way that shows love.
• Get lost, it's the best way to discover a city. 
• How many times did I get lost in Rome???? Oh, every time I entered the city! It's what made the trip so wonderful. I discovered a Rome I never would have known had I never gotten lost...
• I learned that friendships can be found in the most random way. Though I only had a semester to really get to know one of my friends, Shelby, I wouldn't trade this past semester for anything. It opened my world up to so many different people...and now I have an amazing new roomie! I'll miss her while she's in Knoxville, but...it will lead to ROAD TRIPS 
• Make friends in your classes.....and then actually hang out with them outside of class! I can't tell you how many of my friendships came from doing just that.
• I learned that everyone should study abroad. If you want to, and your parents are hesitant, just let me talk to them...
• You should take road trips to away football game. Always.
• I don't care if everyone tells you it's stupid for you to go, because "there's no way we'll win" GO. LSU was a weekend of laughter and I made lots of new friends on that trip (Hello, Natty!!!) I wouldn't trade it for anything. Texas A&M and Knoxville were equally as epic. Even though I lost my wallet in Texas (leads to the next point
• If you're ever in Texas...stop at Buc-ee's. Best. Gas. Station. Ever. 
• Harry Potter is wonderful. Don't even try to tell me that it is not. Your opinion is invalid
• There will be times when you think, "it's only been 2 months since.....(whatever event). And times when you think, "Oh my gosh, it's already been 2 months!?" 
• Example: The month of December...wait IT'S OVER!?
• Example 2: I can't believe it's only been three months since Caitlyn died...it feels like it's been an eternity since the last time I laughed with that sassy girl.
• Your mom ALWAYS knows something that you don't.....
• Your dad, well....he does too. 
• So listen to them, learn from them. And PLEASE don't make the exact same mistakes that they have made....I mean, they've already made them. why re-invent the wheel!
• Yes, there are times that you dropped the ball this year, but there are also times when you really made a huge difference in someone's life. Remember those times instead.
• Pay it forward. Because it's fun, and completely awesome
• They don't speak Spanish in Barcelona. Yeah. 
• They also play beach volleyball in their boxers/underwear when it is "cold" outside in Barcelona..............
• It costs 20 euros to go inside and to the height of "La Sagrada Familia" and it's worth it.
• Even if there are 2500 stairs involved...always climb them when you're in Europe. They will lead you to some of the most beautiful and majestic views of the city you're in. Every. single. time.
• You'll never see and experience everything on your bucket list... This is because every single thing that you mark off will only lead to you adding 20 more things to it. 
• The Spanish Steps...they're in Rome. Yup. 
• The election of a new Pope is a pretty awesome thing to experience in Europe. 
• You need to make friends that are willing to call you out for being dumb. 
• You could live in Rome for a hundred years and never scratch the surface...I MISS ITALY! Can you tell????
• It's okay to make your mind up...and then change it. I repeat: It is OKAY to change your mind!
• You learn a lot about your car when it dies on I 85 when you're going home to Auburn...and then you learn a lot about how much your Big loves you when she comes to get you.
• Auburn football is a roller coaster...that you NEVER want to get off of. I watched us make history in the most incredible come back story ever this season. What a treat it has been! War Eagle!

Okay, okay....I'll be completely serious now:

Anyways, at the beginning of this year, I was literally counting down the days until I got to Italy. But, what I had no idea, was that those 3-4 months abroad would teach me more about myself, people, and the world than I ever thought possible. I saw some of the most beautiful things that I've ever seen, and I learned some about pretty horrific things about their history while I was there. But everything added up to this beautiful, strong, and poetic culture that is so honest and boldly, ITALIAN. Everything. The good, and the bad..The Italians are proud people, and after 3 months in their picturesque country, I can tell you that they have a lot to be proud of for sure. When I got back to America, I learned very quickly that not everyone was as open minded to learning about other ways of life, but I had to remember...how could they be open minded? All they know is the American way of life. And that's okay, but I challenge you to go somewhere that will challenge everything you think about anything. I came home from Italy with a stronger faith in Jesus than I left the country with, and I came changed in some ways. Everything in Italy is slower paced, but I learned that that's okay...and even a GOOD thing sometimes. 

During the summer, I learned that people will always surprise you. My coworkers at McAlister's taught me that. I learned that people will always think they're better than others, and there is nothing you can do about it. I learned that even if the job you have isn't your dream job, sometimes, the coworkers can make it to where you look forward to going into work anyways. I learned that Auburn athletes are incredibly human...even though they are so idolized on campus. They go to class just like me, and they study just as hard as I do, if not harder in some cases. I learned that second chances lead to beautiful friendships. I've learned that some friendships are effortless, and some are harder to maintain...but that doesn't make them any less important. Mostly, I learned that what I wrote in my last post still rings true. I am still so proud to have pledged Alpha Xi Delta. I am so proud to have known Caitlyn and I feel so privileged to have called her a friend. Every story and memory I have with her constantly makes me smile. I miss her every single day, but I know for every memory I have with her that there are others with hundreds more memories. So I know they miss her even more than I do. It's been so incredible to watch everyone hold each other up during the past three months, It's been extremely hard, but I know that our sisterhood and friendships are unbreakable. I know that I will proudly "throw what I know" long after my Auburn days...because I will always be proud to wear a quill. Lastly, I learned that having a Bible is completely useless if you don't open it up and read it, or try to memorize it so that you can have it in your mind during the day. It is so important to keep the word of the Lord on your mind, how else will you fend off temptation? 

So, here's to the memories of 2013. Some memories I hold dear to my heart and hope to never forget, others I wish I could forget with all of my heart. There have been times where I laughed until I cried, and times when I cried until I laughed. There have been times when I have lost myself in a book, and times when I found myself while I was lost in a beautiful city. There have been days I'd never want to relive, and days I would go back to in a heartbeat. There have been several friendships that have come to an end, and there have been some pretty remarkable friendships made. So, here's to 2013--A year of laughter, tears, memories, adventure and friendships. It has been quite a roller coaster...and I've really enjoyed growing and learning from each moment. I've been looking back on the year so that I can now move forward and continue to learn and grow. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for 2014. 

But I will say this....it'll be hard to follow this year. 

War Eagle and TFJ!

True Sisters

“A sister in every sense of the word…”
I remember being a freshman and making that pledge to be a true sister. I also remember right before I went through recruitment someone told me to listen to what each sorority stood for, because I was going to be standing for it too. Well this week, I have seen my sorority embody a strong sisterhood that I am so proud to be a part of. Yes, this is a very dark time and none of us have any answers to the questions that we keep finding ourselves asking each other, but we have all stood together and I am so humbled by that.
Caitlyn Wiggins was a sister that had such a big personality, that she couldn’t help but get to know everyone. There are so many wonderful things that I could say about her, and it wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface. Instead, I think I will share one of my fondest memories with the dear friend whose presence is already greatly missed. I think it shows the kind of person she was almost perfectly.
It was my sophomore year, the year everything started to fall apart. Caitlyn heard that I was crying in my room, so in true Caitlyn fashion, she busted up in my room and told me to put on some clothes because we were going on an adventure. And we did. I remember genuinely laughing for the first time in a long time that night. We goofed around and went dirt road riding, and she just kept telling me all of these hilarious stories. That was my Caitlyn; that was OUR Caitlyn. She always just knew what you needed. If you needed a shoulder to cry on, she gave you hers. If you needed an adventure, she took you on one. If you needed advice, she gave you the best advice she could. And of course, if you needed a laugh, she definitely made you laugh.
It’s no secret that she was dearly loved by all of us and that she is already missed by all of the sisters of Alpha Xi Delta, but, “this is goodnight and not goodbye…” I am still in shock, but I have truly seen the strong, authentic sisterhood that I pledged as a freshman shine this week. I am so glad that I chose to stand for the sisterhood that Alpha Xi Delta believes in, because:
Together we are embodying the meaning of TFJ.
Together we are being “sisters in every sense of the word”.
Together we are standing strong.
Together we are making Caitlyn proud.
Together we will forever be joined.
And
Together we will get through this.

TFJ forever and always to all of my beautiful, strong sisters of Zeta Xi.

Check This Out (Trust Me, It's Fabulous)

Hello fellow bloggers and followers!!! I am really excited about this particular blog! Okay, so one of my adorable sorority sisters has started her own blog. She has posed the question, “What are you passionate about?” And she wants your help! Well, she wants everyone’s help I guess I should say. I would like nothing better than to see y'all let the world know about your passions! That being said, I thought I’d reach out to y’all since my blog reaches much farther than I ever could. The link to her blog is at the bottom of this post.
 I encourage you to check it out and read about other people’s passions. It’s been an incredible experience reading about others and learning from people that I may never meet. I've had a chance to be a part of something bigger than myself and I really believe that each of y’all could benefit from this project just as much as I have, if not more! So check out her blog and PLEASE write something to this incredible young woman who has challenged me to look at the world differently. Thanks, y’all!

Here is a bit from my post, you can read the rest of it on her blog:

“What am I passionate about? At first, a question like that seemed simple, but putting into words what my passion is may be one of the most difficult tasks I've done all day, and I've attempted math today! I finally have summed it up into one word (yay me!): People. That’s right, my passion is people. Every passion that I have ends up coming back to people. My obsession with travel, photography, art, missions, and even my love for Jesus goes back to people….”

Read more about why people are my passion at:

http://thepassionpro.wordpress.com/

To write your own entry click on the “Your turn” tab! I look forward to reading each of y’alls entries soon!!

The Restless Heart Syndrome

I think I’ve always been pretty restless. I’ve always seen the world as one big mystery waiting to be solved. I’ve just always felt the need to chase the setting sun, I guess you could say. If there was any opportunity for adventure, I’d run full speed ahead right towards it. I think that aspect of who I am sort of terrifies my parents... I guess I figured that three months abroad would cure me of running. Or maybe I thought that three months abroad would be enough to solve the mystery of the world. Whatever it is that I thought, this I know for sure: I have so much more to learn and there are many adventures out there. There are adventures that I may never get to experience, and some that I may be lucky enough to experience.

I am very blessed. I know that, but tonight when I was eating dinner I found myself listing all of the places that I’m not going to get to see before I leave for home. It seems that with every new adventure, I find myself with ten more things to add to my list. I mean, I’ve traveled all over Italy. I’ve seen more of Italy in two months than most would see in a lifetime. But, I still found myself thinking that I wouldn’t see the Amafi Coast, or run along the coast of Sicily, or even stand in front of The Last Supper in Milan. I won’t get to walk down the streets of Prague, or see the beaches of Greece. I mean…am I serious!?

That’s when it hit me. Yes, there are so many things that I want to see that I may never get to see in this lifetime. My restless heart will never be completely satisfied in traveling the world. I mean you could live in Rome for one hundred years and not even scratch the surface of what that city has to offer. So, obviously my heart would never be satisfied by travel. With this new realization, I realized that I would rather spend a lifetime chasing after the Lord than an adventure that I romanticized in my head. I mean, the Lord’s adventure is infinitely more exciting than I could ever plan in my finite mind. Even if his adventure for me is just getting married one day and having children as I try to work as a child life specialist, I will be ten times happier doing what He has planned. His plan is perfect.

I wouldn’t take this semester back for anything in the world. I learned a lot about others, the Italian culture, and I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve grown more in these three months than I have in the last two years combined. My eyes have seen some of the most beautiful creations that the Lord has made. I have seen ancient history right in front of my face. I’ve touched the Mediterranean and I’ve definitely tasted Italy. (Gelato, pasta, and pizza!? HELLOOOO!) This experience is one that I will always look back on. I will probably annoy my children one day with all of my stories. I am thankful that my parents allowed me to live my dream. Because if I had never lived my dream in this beautiful country, how would I know that I will never have enough time to see this great big world that the Lord has created...no matter how small we think this world is.

A nice slice of Humble Pie

During my time here in Italy I have seen more than I ever dreamed possible and experienced things that I never expected. I’ve walked where Ancient Romans walked, I have seen more masterpieces than I could list, and I have experienced being in Italy during the resignation of the Pope and the installation of a new one. Now, after that impressive list above you may be surprised to find that the experience that has stuck with me the most was a simple night working in the homeless shelter.

Surprised? Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had the chance to see some pretty incredible sights, but how many students abroad can say that they were able to give back during their experience? There are many reasons that this night has stood out for me the way it has.

One reason is that it gave me a chance to put names and faces with statistics and generalizations. As a Human Development major, I loved getting to know some of the sweet people that we were serving. Since I was cleaning tables, I had the perfect opportunity to talk with many of them. One lady named Francesca even told me all about her life, or as much as she could. Another man serenaded me and Emma. He was so excited to have people to talk to. It was heartbreaking.

Helping out in the homeless shelter was an extremely humbling experience for all of us. It definitely made me think about everything that I have been blessed with. Not only am I here watching some of my dreams come true right in front of my eyes, but I have a loving family and a HOME waiting for me when I get back. A group of us are even planning a trip back to the homeless shelter to help out again. I’m looking forward to it!