Lessons Learned

While living in China, I've learned many things. Some of them are quite obvious: how to use chopsticks, how to speak (a teeny tiny bit) Chinese, how to survive culture shock...

Other things are simple life lessons. Things I could have learned anywhere in the world. All of this new knowledge has helped me grow and mature in numerous ways. I've become a better person because of China. I can love fuller and deeper. I appreciate all aspects of life, good and bad, so much more.

Patience and understanding are two things that people think they have in their life, but you truly don't know if you have it until your limits are pushed and you are tested. Living in China has shown me how incredibly important patience is and how approaching every situaiton in life with an open mind and understanding for varying perspectives can change your life.

But, I think the most important lesson I've learned over the last few months is definitely something I could have learned anywhere. There are times in life when people let you down.  Whether its a student who has much greater potential than they show, a boss who just doesn't have a clue, or a friend who unknowingly betrays you, forgiveness can be hard. It's so much easier to bundle up all those negative feelings, to point the finger of blame, to hold things over people's heads until relationships are shattered. But, when we forgive, not only are you letting that person of the hook for their wrongdoing, you are freeing yourself from bitterness, grief, and any other number of negative emotions poisoning your life. Instead of being disappointed with people, I've decided life can be a more joyful occassion with a little bit of forgiveness. Holding grudges does nothing but harm yourself.

This post may have nothing to do with an adventure persay, but it has everything to do with individual growth and maturation. And let's face it, maturing into a better person can just possibly be the greatest adventure of life.

So here's to the lessons I've learned and those that are yet to come.