Time Out!

Well, my Sabbatical is almost over. This is week four (I chose to do 30 days), and I'd like to update you on my progress. First, I must say that I highly, highly recommend intentionally taking time out for yourself. So many people serial date and lose themselves along the way- going from person to person searching for something that they'll never find because they never took the time to figure out what they were searching for in the first place!

Over the past four weeks, I've challenged myself. I went to the movies alone, to dinner alone. I took ballroom dancing lessons. Learned some jiu jitsu. Heck, I created this blog and put some of my most personal thoughts out for people to see. I challenged myself to intentionally decline dates, and instead stay in on a Saturday night so I could learn even more about myself. And guess what? It was fabulous!

And I did learn things about myself. I learned that I'm much better at Salsa than Cha Cha. I learned to call my mom more... because well, now that I don't see them as much, I really do miss my family. They are a pretty awesome bunch. I learned that I like Oldies a lot more than I remember. In fact, I'm listening to a Michael Buble + Oldies Pandora station right now. I also really like Bob Marley and the like, but I kinda already knew that. :-) Either way, I've exposed myself to a greater variety of music. And the top 40 crap that plays on the radio in the car is really getting on my nerves! They play the songs over and over and over and over... you get the picture. I learned that a lot of young Christians struggle with the same things I do, and aren't perfect either. I learned that I'm really not that alone in my views. There's always someone close to you who understands how you feel, you just gotta find out who! ;-) And I learned to love myself even more than I already did. I feel centered, and confident in who I am and what I'm looking for.

I'll leave you with this:

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous!"