Besides bringing home all the jewelry and souvenirs, I brought home a small part of my trip to India. On Thursday Jim and Pam told us there would be a change in the normal dinner time pattern. Instead of everyone sharing their highs and lows for the day we would share what we learned on the trip. I sometimes get nervous standing up and sharing things like that so I tried to think about it before hand rather than on the spot. In thinking about it all of Friday I realized I had learned a lot. I was the last person to share. A lot of what people talked about was love: that they learned there is always room to give themselves in some other way, always more room to love; or that if the children and colony people can love so freely, it must be possible so it should be done at home. I decided to share something that hopefully would mean something to others as well as to me. My first is that no matter where in the world you are, how far away from home and anything familiar you are you can always find a friend and someone to rely on. Also, that there is less out in the world to fear than you think. It is good to take chances with making a close friend with someone you don't know if you will ever see again. Or, of course, in trying something new. It is good to challenge ourselves and grow from our successes and failures. Last, I found the best way to find happiness in releasing the joy in others. Release the Joy was our summer theme at Rising Star. It was well chosen.
Saturday we endured a sad bus ride back to Chennai. We ended up writing in each others journals like yearbooks and remembering everyone's individual little sayings. It was tons of fun. We hung out in a group until slowly a few at a time left to catch their flight. My mom and I were the last ones left. We left on Sunday afternoon. I was honestly a little excited to be home.
When I got home I was able to spend time with Natalie, who wasn't going back to Cali for a few days, and Courtney who lives way close. It was a blast! Then last night Courtney and I drove out to Provo to hang out with Nelson who got time off from his BYU volleyball camp. We all talked about India. We decided that of course you are excited to go home. But once you're home and you shower..you just want to go back. We talked for way too long and we were all way late for curfew! What I'm getting at is we all took a chance to become friends with someone we didn't know if you we would see again. But it's a small world. I believe the people you share your heart with will always come back at some point. Even if they live in other states. Don't be afraid to share your whole self. Leave a part of you everywhere you go and with everyone you meet. That is what I learned in India.
Saturday we endured a sad bus ride back to Chennai. We ended up writing in each others journals like yearbooks and remembering everyone's individual little sayings. It was tons of fun. We hung out in a group until slowly a few at a time left to catch their flight. My mom and I were the last ones left. We left on Sunday afternoon. I was honestly a little excited to be home.
When I got home I was able to spend time with Natalie, who wasn't going back to Cali for a few days, and Courtney who lives way close. It was a blast! Then last night Courtney and I drove out to Provo to hang out with Nelson who got time off from his BYU volleyball camp. We all talked about India. We decided that of course you are excited to go home. But once you're home and you shower..you just want to go back. We talked for way too long and we were all way late for curfew! What I'm getting at is we all took a chance to become friends with someone we didn't know if you we would see again. But it's a small world. I believe the people you share your heart with will always come back at some point. Even if they live in other states. Don't be afraid to share your whole self. Leave a part of you everywhere you go and with everyone you meet. That is what I learned in India.
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