grin, sob, hug. repeat.

last weekend i was with my favorite teenagers for a regional church assembly. the teenagers owned the assembly. they blew the adults minds and inspired and intrigued them. it was amazing. upon returning to work (exhausted but only facing three days of toil) this week i see this:

"After this weekend, I took a look back at how I was freshman year... and I've changed and grown more than I could have possibly imagined I would. I am completely and utterly amazed, almost to tears. Thank you Virgina Youth Ministry Committee for making me the wonderful woman I am today ♥ ♥ "
-kb, ymc president 2010

this girl had me grinning like a fool and bursting into spontaneous tears all. weekend. long. love it. in the last year that i have known her she has become so confident and headstrong and determined. i am envious of her strength and drive! i cannot wait to see her grow more and am grateful for the kick in the tail her example has set for me!

***good news is: the high school kids are flawlessly transitioning into the college age group so i don't miss a beat of their stories and journeys!!!***

things i learned from teenagers this weekend...

i actually came to this current realization on my way home from the teenager time so i still consider it learning from them because the sense of clarity and rejuvenation i feel after spending time with my little lovelies puts me in a mind set for some serious positive thinking. also, it is difficult to bullshit myself after these moments and i just come to terms with some things that i have often been talking myself out of believing or admitting. hence....

michael jackson's off the wall is one of my favorite mj songs. i appreciate the message in this song and feel it was underplayed and under valued. the whole album is dope, actually.(admitting this is the same feeling i get when i would admit to liking the grateful dead's shakedown street or phish's down with disease in college-you are not supposed to like that song...it is not the song that fans are supposed to like) i don't give a crud what people think about my taste in music anymore and i think it is completely ridiculous that i ever really did. (i blame it on hippie boys. it is your fault hippie boys. and your cute hippie ways i used to love so much.)

"So Tonight Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf
And Just Enjoy Yourself
Groove, Let The Madness In The Music Get To You
Life Ain't So Bad At All
If You Live It Off The Wall"


life lessons. good stuff people. consider playing this one on repeat next time you roll down the highway.

what i learned from teenagers this week

i am a youth leader of sorts. i assist with a state wide youth group that does a lot of activities (in congruence with the aforementioned location of my perfection)...in craig co, va...

so i spend a significant amount of time with these youngsters and each time i leave them i find myself feeling a little selfish. i mean, they could not have possibly gotten as much out of our experiences together as i have. there is NO way.

these kids are brilliant. they are so mature (kinda waaay more mature than i am at 29). they are witty. they have goals and dreams and an amazing outlook on life. so i obvi learn tremendous lessons while in their presence. some i knew before but having them remind me is quite helpful...here are a few:

1. keep things fun at all costs
this is definitely not something i skimp on. i like things that are fun. i like making things fun. but when faced with making things (namely, sometimes boring service projects) fun for teenagers i am tested. keeps me on my toes.

2. if you don't listen to people-they will zone out
duh. but this applies to everyone. it is easy to see when others zone out on others...not so easy to see sometimes when others zone out on you. self awareness is crucial.

3. teamwork is good
sometimes i isolate myself from group activities...because i find my irritated beyond belief and i just want to go home and be alone with my dogs lest i freaking strangle someone...excuse me. although time is often well spent in solitude, it is important to join to team on a regular basis. sometimes people are really not that bad and it is just you. get over yourself.

4. don't take anything too seriously
FOR REALS. there is nothing like hearing someone stressing over a chemistry test next thursday to put life into perspective. sit back and decide if it is really worth your sweat before you sweat it.

5. if possible, under any and all circumstances: SING OUT LOUD
'nuf said.