A Wee Thoughtlet or Two

Americans are busy. We do many things, we plan many things, we talk about how many things we do. It is completely normal and even encouraged.

I’m not busy. I wake up, and drink coffee, and do my school, and sometimes go wander around the hospital, and write stuff. Woo hoo. We go to church on Sunday for several hours, and sometimes to the grocery store an hour away and occasionally to a missionary meeting or something in a different part of Kenya. It’s really different from when I used to go to KEYS 2 days a week, the community college 4 days a week, youth group, venture crew, soccer, church, bible study, hangouts with friends. I used to drive somewhere every day. Usually several somewheres.

So, Helen not being busy and Helen being an introvert means Helen delves into her deepest soul and starts sorting herself out. I think it’s something every person should do! Most people, I have noticed, have a hard time talking about themselves, or even knowing who they are. This coming from someone who collects pieces of other people to add to myself. I’ve learned why I can read a book in an hour but procrastinate on writing an essay. I know why war movies or discussions about soldiers, combat, etc. make me so tense. I’ve decided that I’m a half-nerd. All these things I’ve learned because I’ve had time to get to know myself. It’s awesome!

Of course, being with my family pretty much all the time and not much interaction with other American teenagers has been weird. So when we went to a retreat/meeting for WGM (December Retreat is called Turi) I was kinda nervous. There were going to be 3 other teens at Turi. (Introvert Helen gets uneasy) They all grew up together and go to the same boarding school. ( Helen starts dreading Turi). I was supposed to be social and teenagerlike (Uh oh, what if I don’t know how to teenager any more?) So after Helen works herself up into a completely ridiculous state she realizes, psh, I’m Helen. I know myself. And as long as I stay myself I don’t need to be worried about whether the other kids will like me or not.

Turns out we had a great time and Abby, David, and Joel are awesome. So yeah. People, know who you are. It makes most everything so much more fun. Plus, if you’re friends with yourself, you’ll always have someone to talk to!

Right, so that’s what I learned this week.

Have a good one everyone!
<3
Helen