Chapter One-Hundred-and-Seven: Letting Go

Everyone has different experiences in life. Whether it's the situation, or simply our perspective; every person has a unique outlook on their personal journey as a human being.

Growing up is where we learn at an exponential rate. We learn how to ask for food, run to a wall and back, match green shorts with orange tops, so on and so forth. It's really exciting! We also pick up on more subtle things like bad words, boundaries, viewpoints, and values. Usually, as we grow older, these subtle lessons become the backbone of who we are...and we even start to change our minds about some of things. 

My mom and dad both plan quite a bit. We have more than five calendars under one roof. I've grown up with this, and have become quite the little planner myself. It's almost soothing to color code my events and homework and exams on my calendar. However, there is a price to pay with being obsessed with planning. 

What happens when things don't go according to plan?

In the past, I really struggled with whatever life has thrown my way. Whether it's a delayed road trip, an imperfect friendship, a difficult college course....WHATEVER, my first reaction has always been to lose my cool. 

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platform, you are well aware that I added two new faces to my life: Copper and Tod. They have been such a sweet blessing in my life, but preparing for their stay was not easy on me. 

Copper (left) and Tod (right)

My last guinea pig was left at home because dorm rooms do not allow adorable pets unless you have a license to have said adorable pet. My mom and dad thankfully took care of him until he sadly passed away around Thanksgiving. After coping for awhile, and knowing I would be out of the dorm for the next couple of years, I decided I was ready for another guinea pig...or two. Extensive internet research revealed guinea pigs thrive in groups. I actually learned a lot and decided to buy a new cage, and even try and adopt a pair of surrendered pigs. 

Well, things never really work out as planned, right? After finding an adorable pair of piggies online, and finally visiting the guinea pig adoption center, I found out they had been adopted long ago...and that the adoption center didn't really have what I was looking for. I bought a humongous cage set up that took a lot of effort and time to put together. I was feeling constricted on time because my summer class and my job were starting soon, and I still didn't have my piggies. My mom found me crying with a seemingly-impossible cage taking up the majority of my room, and tried to comfort me best she could. "I've done everything right," I cried, "Why is this not working?" 

Told you it was humongous

Well, for starters, I was crying about a guinea pig cage. Nothing is going to work with that attitude! But, the thing was, I was so stuck on my guinea-pigs plan that when it messed up, my whole world came crashing down. That's not the way to live! 

I went to Petsmart a couple days later to look at guinea pig supplies and toys. Of course, when I got there, I was greeted by two adorable guinea pigs staring back at me in their aquarium. After reading horror stories on the internet about Petsmart guinea pigs, I did my best to avoid making eye contact with the little ones and focus on my mission: supplies. However, I kept sneaking glances at them...I couldn't help it. 

Cuddling in the store

I called my mom and asked for her opinion. I texted Luke and asked for his opinion. I looked online for "normal pig behavior" to be sure these two actually liked each other. I think I spent about two hours in the store watching them, debating back and forth whether I was ready to have guinea pigs and if these were "the ones".

Well, as you probably already knew, I ended up scooping them up and taking them home. I'm not going to say everything has been sunshine and daisies since they've been home, but I can say I have no regrets adopting these sweeties. 

What I've learned with these boogers is that life isn't about planning every second. Life is about loving what's around us, smiling, and finding joy. And, while I love planning and micromanaging my schedule, I need to learn to not constrict myself to the point where I can't breathe. I have to stop saying "I want to do this," but, instead, "I will do this!" 

In light of my recent "aha!", Luke and I decided to splurge a little bit and make a date to Hurricane Harbor, a Six Flags water park. We had to put our phones away because they can't get wet, and I honestly had so much fun just hanging out, talking, and not being distracted! I hate that I glance at my screen every 10 minutes...it was good to have a break for a day and to instead have fun. We didn't plan anything other than we wanted to get there in the morning and leave before 6:00 pm. And I had such a great time!!

Shades

I've also always talked about making a trip to visit my roommate, Mary (and Nikki), in her hometown. I've driven the familiar route to Lubbock on my own multiple times...but I've never driven somewhere I don't know that's 3+ hours away, all by myself!! Well now I can say that I have because last Monday, I drove to Lufkin, TX.

Mary and Nikki always complained about how there's nothing to do in their hometown, but when I went there....there really was nothing to do. Okay, I'm kidding (kind of), but their town is very small! Mary showed me around town a little bit, and we even went to their local coffee shop. They showed me their park, which isn't much to them...but I was absolutely in love with all the pine!! The humidity? Not so much. 

"The End of the World"

On Tuesday they took me to their own little zoo! It's very small to big city zoos, but full of great wildlife! They even have peacocks roam the park freely!! This wasn't anything major to my friends, but I was completely obsessed with the bright, loud birds!

"Take my picture with it!"

"OMG I'm so close!"

Selfie! With a Peacock!!!

It was also a lot of fun at the zoo because Kiahley, Mary's and Nikki's younger sister, came along too! She had a blast because she got to hang with the "cool" kids, and I had a blast because she is so fun to talk to! 

Riding the Train through the Zoo!

Good Talk

All in all, we had a great time at the zoo. We gushed about animals, sweated a lot, and really enjoyed hanging out with each other. 

A Lufkin Tradition

I explored the Vann's backyard, got my first chigger bites, complained too much about online homework (but so did Mary and Nikki so it's okay), bonded with Kiahley, and overall had a great trip! We didn't plan what to do (other than the zoo), and we had a great time either way. 

Car Selfie!

It will probably take a hundred more years for me to completely learn how to not plan all the time, but what matters is that I'm doing my best to learn now, to make me a better me. I used to plan my whole life out (marry by this age, have children by that age, blah blah blah), but that's not the way to go. God has a mission for every single one of us and we have to make that tough decision to say, "God, I will do what You ask of me." In all honesty, praying to God and making an effort to better my relationship with Christ has cleared up my life so much of useless clutter I hung on to. Turning to Christ means letting go.  

Life is an Adventure (*cough* see blog title), but the adventure can either be enjoyable or not..all depending on our attitude! Changing our lives for the better starts with us. I can't wait to see what more adventures Christ has planned for my life! 

Thanks for reading. Have a great Fourth of July!