Begin the Week with Words

Designed and drew this plate at a friend's
house just last night. An activity I would
have shirked previously simply because
I lack artistic ability, missing out on
the laughter and memories.

I am not an adventurous person to say the least. I suppose many people can relate to such a statement; but, I imagine fewer can take it to the extent I can. What is an adventure to me?

Experiencing hibachi with a group of friends for the first time last week.
Deciding to attend a cafe painting night by myself, out of my comfort zone and skill set.
Even thinking about getting a tattoo, let alone actually getting one. Then two. Planning a third.
Cutting my hair in a daring style.
Eating foods I normally wouldn't think twice about, like hummus.
Randomly deciding to go parasailing and jet skiing on the same day of a vacation.
Going on vacation, period.
Reaching out to people.
Refusing to let my emotions rule me.
Making healthy relationship choices of all kinds.
My husband and three kids.

Of course, I haven't exactly traveled the normal/preferred path through adulthood, so some might say opportunity for bigger adventures was limited. I'd tell you I wasn't an adventurous person even before that path began, and yet, my path was more than enough adventure for any twenty-year-old. All-in-all it's who I am. I love my home town and would be content to barely leave it, or at least to always return soon after leaving. I love my job and would be content to retire from it twenty or so years from now. I love my family of five and would keep them close to me forever if I had any say in it. Little around me could change and I'd be perfectly happy, because my adventure is always wherever I am.

The list above are things that at one point in my life I would never do or would think are reserved for other people, with lives different than mine. People who made the right choices, people who have money, people who have friends, people who didn't suffer from anxiety. People who were better people than I was. Oddly enough, I began to see my life as an adventure and delve into new things when I became sick of being me. It was then that my eyes were opened to see that my job does not define me; anxiety does not have to rule my life; emotions happen, but how I deal with them is a choice; trying new things does not have to be "out of the norm"; I do not have to play by anyone else's rules, only God's.

My life is an adventure, I love the person I've become, because I fought to become her. And it's not over yet. The best is yet to come.