One Year Ago Today, I was sitting in my kitchen giddily looking over
at the handsome man who was making me a lovely salmon dinner. One Year
Ago Today that man recreated our first date; one where we went ice
skating (this time we did it hand in hand). One Year Ago Today that
bright-eyed gentleman took me for a walk under the night sky because I
love fresh air. One Year Ago Today that walk ended with me hearing how
much that man loves and needs me in his life. One Year Ago Today he got
down on bended knee and asked me to be his wife!
This date has caused me to reflect back on this past year. My-OH-My so much has changed! But some things are still the same…
In this year alone I can honestly say I’ve learned more about who I am, who I want to be, where I am going, and just about life in general than I have learned in all my years of life leading up to this one!
For example: This year at school I have received the lowest grade I have probably ever received in my entire life…it was really hard for me. While this was not a highlight of my BYU experience, it was a defining moment. I could have sulked in that grade and let it ruin my attitude about school, I could have let it define me. Instead, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and held my head high because I knew that I had tried my best. “Keep moving forward!”
I think what I have learned about most is who I am. I am a person with very high expectations. This year I have come to respect setting lower, more attainable expectations. It’s an art to know your limits and to not run before you can walk or even stand. I’ve learned that because I’m a people pleaser (to the EXTREME). It’s INCREDIBLY important for me to know what I want, what my standards are, who I want to be; because without knowing these things I just start making lists of what everyone else wants and thinks, and it gets unequivocally frustrating/confusing when it comes time to make my own decision for myself. So I’m taking a lesson from my inspiring cousin Chad Hendry; and “JUST FOR TODAY” I’m not going to get wrapped up in what everyone else thinks, I’m going to do what I want, and what I feel is right for me.
This year I have learned that maybe my family was right, and maybe even justified in giving me the nickname “Princess” because for some reason I expect things to be perfect all the time, every little detail, and not perfect to someone else’s standards, but perfect to my own standards. I do attribute most of this to having what I like to call: a “Perfectionist Complex”. Seriously, it is a really stressful complex! And it goes hand in hand with my Princess Syndrome. My ‘Syndrome’ and ‘Complex’ remain very much unchanged this year. (sorry).
Luckily for me the thing that has remained the most constant in my life is the love my very best friend Jeremy Anderson has for me. While we’ve had our up’s and down’s this past year, his love and affection for me has never wavered, even though I have put him through quite a lot (lets just say that my complex has gotten in the way of some Big Plans). But through it all he is always ever so patient with me, he listens, and tries to understand all the crazy fears and emotions that I have at times, and the best part about it, he has always supported me in doing what I feel is right (Thanks again Jeremy). We have had some seriously wonderful times together this past year, and its really all been worth it. I have learned so much about what love IS (and what it isn’t); what it really means to love someone; what it feels like to need that person, and their example and support. All this and so much more I have learned from Jeremy. From all the experiences and lessons this year has brought, I can definitely say that I am a better person today; because through it all I finally learned how to love someone more than I love myself! I expect for there to be trials ahead, but I wouldn’t dare to try and face them alone, because I know that love really does conquer all.
This date has caused me to reflect back on this past year. My-OH-My so much has changed! But some things are still the same…
In this year alone I can honestly say I’ve learned more about who I am, who I want to be, where I am going, and just about life in general than I have learned in all my years of life leading up to this one!
For example: This year at school I have received the lowest grade I have probably ever received in my entire life…it was really hard for me. While this was not a highlight of my BYU experience, it was a defining moment. I could have sulked in that grade and let it ruin my attitude about school, I could have let it define me. Instead, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and held my head high because I knew that I had tried my best. “Keep moving forward!”
I think what I have learned about most is who I am. I am a person with very high expectations. This year I have come to respect setting lower, more attainable expectations. It’s an art to know your limits and to not run before you can walk or even stand. I’ve learned that because I’m a people pleaser (to the EXTREME). It’s INCREDIBLY important for me to know what I want, what my standards are, who I want to be; because without knowing these things I just start making lists of what everyone else wants and thinks, and it gets unequivocally frustrating/confusing when it comes time to make my own decision for myself. So I’m taking a lesson from my inspiring cousin Chad Hendry; and “JUST FOR TODAY” I’m not going to get wrapped up in what everyone else thinks, I’m going to do what I want, and what I feel is right for me.
This year I have learned that maybe my family was right, and maybe even justified in giving me the nickname “Princess” because for some reason I expect things to be perfect all the time, every little detail, and not perfect to someone else’s standards, but perfect to my own standards. I do attribute most of this to having what I like to call: a “Perfectionist Complex”. Seriously, it is a really stressful complex! And it goes hand in hand with my Princess Syndrome. My ‘Syndrome’ and ‘Complex’ remain very much unchanged this year. (sorry).
Luckily for me the thing that has remained the most constant in my life is the love my very best friend Jeremy Anderson has for me. While we’ve had our up’s and down’s this past year, his love and affection for me has never wavered, even though I have put him through quite a lot (lets just say that my complex has gotten in the way of some Big Plans). But through it all he is always ever so patient with me, he listens, and tries to understand all the crazy fears and emotions that I have at times, and the best part about it, he has always supported me in doing what I feel is right (Thanks again Jeremy). We have had some seriously wonderful times together this past year, and its really all been worth it. I have learned so much about what love IS (and what it isn’t); what it really means to love someone; what it feels like to need that person, and their example and support. All this and so much more I have learned from Jeremy. From all the experiences and lessons this year has brought, I can definitely say that I am a better person today; because through it all I finally learned how to love someone more than I love myself! I expect for there to be trials ahead, but I wouldn’t dare to try and face them alone, because I know that love really does conquer all.
