Anyone in the blogging world, do you ever have those days were you phrase thoughts in your mind to fit in a blog post? That's been happening to me for the last THREE months.
Part of my distance from the blogging world has been a fear that my world will continue to move at the fun, fast pace without me. Here I am to conquer that fear. I'm still trying to figure out if I should make it "catchup on Suzette's life" style or if I should just focus on where I'm at (while briefly telling what got me here). The second one sounds more like me.
If anyone either (a) follows me on facebook or (b) sees me around, you probably know that I have a boyfriend. To preface my adventures of the summer, I would like to attribute most of them to him. You know when people tell you you work too hard and never have fun? Yeah, I didn't get that. While I'm not ashamed of my passion for school and work, I never fully realized what I was missing out on. Something I don't want to forget from this summer is that there's a whole world out there to EXPERIENCE. Many people in my life I can attribute that wisdom to.
Alright, I got bored trying to think of a way to introduce so many exciting things, so I decided to simplify by doing one of my favorite things: make a list.
1. Hiked Stewart Falls
2. Hiked to Hot Springs
3. Hiked the Y*
4. Swung off Mona rope swing
5. Went to Canyonlands (Southern Utah)
6. Jeeping through canyons
7. Hiked 13 mile hike to Indian ruins and hieroglyphs
8. Repelled off of an arch
9. Slid through slot canyons
10. Tumbling down Rock Canyon hill
11. Watched a solar eclipse
12. Learned slack lining
13. Made ice cream*
14. Climbed up Southridge to roof
15. Rafting down Colorado River in Moab
16. Wakeboarding on Pineview Lake
17. Wake surfing on Pineview Lake
18. Boating on Pineview Lake
19. Learning how to longboard
20. Jumping in puddles
21. Rock climbing outdoors
*I've done this before.
As you can see, this summer isn't my typical scene. Being completely honest, I didn't know that half of this stuff even existed. Slot canyons? Who knew? I thought that boating was for rich people and that seldom anyone did it. I thought longboards where just long skateboards for those too handicap to skate on normal ones. Slack lining? ...You get the point.
For a while, I just wanted to brag to my Ohioan friends of the amazing summer I've had (shallow, I know). But, I didn't know that you could have this much fun. I've also been struggling with a regret that I have never done all of this before. I felt so far behind everyone. They've done this stuff a thousand times before. Because I was so inexperienced, I tried placing the blame on different factors. My dad not being very outdoorsy, or being very frugal with his money. My environment: Ohio doesn't really have the terrain for these outdoor activities. My family dynamic: we just spend our time differently when we're together. My lack of coordination or athletic ability. To make myself feel better, I've told myself these things time and time again. It was a way to make up for my failed attempts of being tough or strong or talented. I kept wondering why I ever thought I was so talented, or why I was under the illusion that my life was fun.
I ponder these sobering thoughts still occasionally, but writing them makes me realize there is a reason I was raised where I was, with certain people, and with the "adventures" given me. I was the one treating my past like a handicap, but it was perfect for me. I am easily pleased! I am perfectly content with a Disney movie, or a day laying out at the neighborhood beach.
Ignorance can be bliss sometimes. If those listening to Christ weren't ready for certain knowledge, his parables just sounded like good stories. If I would have known about wake boarding and slack lining when I was little, my life would have been so dissatisfying knowing I could be doing more fun things. I would have run my parent's bank accounts dry with that information. That's why Heavenly Father gives us knowledge step-by-step. We have to show a level of faith, maturity, and a responsibility to act on the knowledge given us.
Wow, that really is why we can't have everything at once. We have to prove ourselves! I hope this is making sense. I'm praying that this isn't a drifting thought, but rather a precious truth that blogging has brought out. That's why I miss blogging. Those thoughts that would start a perfect blog post usually end in a greater understanding of myself and Heavenly Father.
