Monday, February 27, 2012

Fulfillment. How?

Lately I've been having random conversations with people about how different my life is now.

In high school I lived for stake activities, EFY, dance performances, and preparing for prom.
I always thought those were the best years of my life and that those friends I walked across the graduation stage with would be my closest friends forever! Haha...not so much.

Then I went to college.

I did not talk to my high school friends on a regular basis at all.
I had my stake friends and then added on an amazing list of friends that legitimately are going to be my closest friends forever
In college I lived for any and all parties!
Birthday parties, ward parties, house parties, college sponsored parties, but especially...dance parties!
I pretty much felt that if I was not doing some sort of partying, then I was lame.
I remember thinking to myself, "I am never going to get old and boring! Why would married people want to stay at home? I will always be cool!"

Then as my time at BYU wound down, I found myself engaged and shortly after...a married woman.
I won't lie...at first I found myself conflicted inside.
I still felt that need to be with a lot of people, but I was totally content just being with Alex.
I felt like I was cheating on my social life in a way, as odd as that sounds.
But as I've been married, I've come to learn something.

At every stage in our lives, we find self fulfillment in different ways.

For some of you that may be like, "duhhhh," but for me it's been quite the enlightening process. The things I cherish now, I would not have cherished in high school or college.
I've come to truly appreciate each stage of my life.
High school was a blast!
College was even more of a blast!
But...being married is the best stage of all.
I feel like I value all of relationships so much more than I used to, but I just happen to live with my most important relationship.
I find SO much fulfillment in my life now, but in very different ways.
I find fulfillment in doing well at my job and I am so grateful every day that the Lord has blessed me with such an amazing/rewarding career.
I find fulfillment in teaching my dancing kiddos and watching them get better.
I find fulfillment in doing my visiting teaching. (I NEVER thought I'd say that.)
I find fulfillment in keeping a clean apartment.
I find fulfillment in keeping up with my friend's lives.
I find fulfillment in paying all my bills early. (As much as money stresses me.)
I find fulfillment in my amazing ward.
I find fulfillment in going to the temple with my husband.
I find fulfillment in cooking him dinner. (Even though it does not happen as often as I would like.)
I find fulfillment in having deep conversations with him; whatever the subject.
I find fulfillment in...y'know...married stuff. But seeing as this blog is rated PG I'll keep my thoughts to myself. ;)
I find fulfillment in knowing my husband and I have started an eternal family and that no matter what, Alex loves me in a way that no other human being does.
Man...how self fulfilling that is.

I'll always be up for a good time.
That's just part of my personality...I mean...c'mon...we just did square dancing at our ward activity and I was ALL about that. :)

As President Monson would say....Find joy IN the journey.

3 comments:

Lori said...

I'm glad you're so happy!

Brittany said...

:)

Glenna Bartlett said...

I love this post! And I totally agree. It was more that great to see you guys today. You're so fun and uplifting to talk to! I seriously wish you lived closer so we could hang out and talk more. Anyway...what I'm trying to say is...I tagged you.

Yup. Check out this post for the details :) And please drive safely back to your lovely home!

http://finallysomethingtoblogabout.blogspot.com/2012/03/question-and-answer.html