stepping out of the BUBBLE

Hi readers!! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter weekend. I like writing on Mondays, because I unlike many enjoy Mondays. I always think of it as a fresh new start of the week. If last week was crappy try to make this one happy. So today’s inspiration comes from my weekend. I spent this weekend with great friends and family, and I just kept thinking how fulfilled my heart felt to have these amazing people be part of my journey in life. It also makes me miss my friends that aren’t here, but that’s a whole different blog post. Anyway I think I’m finally starting to realize why God brought me back home. When we first found out that we would be back in Houston I was excited to be close to my family and friends. But I also had this mentality of “cool I don’t have to worry about making new friends, and getting used to a new state.” Pretty closed minded you could say. See here’s the problem about coming from a small town where everyone knows everyone. You tend to form these “cliques” and you even become protective over who’s in it. When I left my small town to an even smaller town five years ago I was not really open to making new friends, because I felt like I would be replacing my friends back home. This form of thinking caused me to fall into depression, sadness, and loneliness. So I had to get out of my comfort zone and do things I wasn’t used to doing and talking to people I didn’t think I would have anything in common with, After I did this I met the most wonderful people that I now call my best friends and family. So coming back I guess I didn’t think I would have this issue but low and behold I found myself in the same situation. Yes I have my friends I had when I left here still, but I still felt something missing. See what I wasn’t realizing is that I wasn’t the girl who left this small town four years ago. My priorities were different. My whole view on life was different. I wasn’t taking this move back home as an “adventure.” So after some soul searching, and lots of meditation I decided I needed to change my attitude about being back home. I was beginning to grow bitter with this place. Yet when I was gone I missed it. I knew God didn’t bring back to run the same race I already ran. Today I can say with confidence that my new race has started and I’m going the full distance. I have gotten to know people that I knew by sight before, but our old mindset maybe didn’t allow us to talk and be kind to one another. I have even reconnected with old friends and formed new bonds. This isn’t just with friends, but with family also. I let go of any grief or burdens that held my soul and heart in the past, I am learning slowly but surely to show love even when that’s the last thing I feel. I know the next time I leave my city I will leave more fulfilled than I did the first time. Every person that crosses our paths is meant to be there, but we have to take the time to figure out why. This could be bad or good, but it’s all part of a lesson in life either way. We all must learn as individuals to step out of our comfort zone. What good are you doing yourself if you don’t allow yourself to make new friends? Or even worse you get mad at your friends for making new friends. How do we ever expect to evolve as humans, and to spread love when we forbid people to get to know us or vice versa. Try and make a new friend this week; maybe that co-worker that you like, but have never taken the time to get to know them outside of work. There are certain people we see everyday, but know very little about them. God isn’t placing these people in our life journey as “Lego” pieces. They are there for us, but if we keep running the same race in circles we will never know why. When your “friends” keep you from stepping outside of the circle maybe you should rethink your friendships. Just because you have known someone 10 plus years doesn’t mean they are good for you. We are the ones who choose who forms our circle. I have made a conscious decision to always keep an open mind when it comes to meeting new people, but that doesn’t mean I have an unguarded heart. I love hard. I am a loyal real friend. And I always keep it 100! Don’t keep running the same race or you will run in the same direction all of your life. Choose to take a different route. As always thanks for reading. oneLOVE !