I am a member of the Student Support organization here at BYU-Idaho, and with a great blessing I have been added as a member of the Student Ambassadors Council. This weekend we had a retreat and I have to tell you, my dear readers, I thought that I'd already experienced the greatest feelings I could at this point in my life. I was reminded that my capacity to experience can always be stretched.
We participated in the Quadrant Activity, and it was amazing. Mind you the entire weekend was filled with amazing happy/spiritual times, service, and cookie demolishing, but this was the pinnacle of the whole experience. It was so simple too. Each of us took the time to fill out a simple worksheet that included some personal information and three traits that we love and cherish about ourselves.
We then sat in a circle and began the activity. A person in the circle would say a little about what they had written down along with the three traits that they cherish about him/herself and then everyone in the circle would take a turn and say something that they had noticed and appreciated about that person. Seems simple, right? Well, when there are seventeen people telling you why they love you unconditionally, having met you the day before, you feel special--no--more than that. You feel edified. You know that you are loved, simply for being you.
When the activity began I admit that I wasn't thinking only about the good things. I was wondering what sort of things that people had thought about me, and I was worried. Everyone seemed so kind and loving that I felt quite less than them. Yet when it came my turn to speak I felt the Spirit so amazingly strong. Really. I don't know how to tell you. It was the most amazing feeling. These wonderful people had seen right through me to the heart of the things that I hold dearest. They said things about me that I didn't think anyone noticed. They told me that I was exactly who I hope to one day be. They said the right thing at the right moment. I was overwhelmed with the love that was in the room. I still am.
There are few moments in my life where I knew with some overpoweringly amazing and personal deepness that I was loved for exactly who I am, without any doubt at all in my mind. Saturday May 4th, 2013 was one of those days. My amazing friends (and I use the word friend because I can't think of something stronger than friend to describe the love I have for these individuals) have lifted me in a special way this weekend. I will never forget the things that they've done for me. They've changed my life for the better. That's a big deal for me.
I learned many, many lessons from this experience, and I wanted to share one of them. I happen to worry about what people think too much. I worry about every little thing because I don't want to offend anyone or make them upset. I worry all day about everything, and through this experience I've gained a testimony that people are much better than we give them credit for. I want to love people more and worry less about upsetting them. No one really seems to be upset by the things that I say, and generally people just think that I apologize too much.
I am going to work on having a more positive attitude about the nature of the people around me. Thank you everyone, for teaching me that.
I love you all. (council members, friends, family, loved ones, all of you)
I won't let you down! Have a great day!
-Doug
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