Bloom Where You're Planted

There's one month left of summer.

I've had 4 months at home since school ended, and I have one more to go.

When the summer started, I pictured it going somewhat like this:

• Baking breads, cookies and what not every day.
• Doing puzzles every day.
• Water balloon fights every week.
• Staying up late watching movies every night with my family.
• Trying new recipes every day.
• Writing in my journal every day.
• Reading books every day. 
• Hanging out with my group of friends every day.
• Learning how to sew, paint, crochet, etc.

Basically, I thought every day would be heavenly. Resting from school, hanging out with friends, and just living the life. And for the first week of summer, that's how it seemed to be going. 

Then reality slapped me in the face.

• I had to find work to be able to pay for tuition, school fees, and those expenses.
• Almost all my friends are on missions, are going on a mission, or are moving away since they are married.
• The friend group that you once were able to associate yourself with changes. Without you even trying.
• You don't get out of routine habits, even if you're on break from school. Laundry, cleaning, organizing your room, etc.
• Jobs take a lot of time. And by a lot, I mean almost all your spare time.
• You have to figure out who you really are. I'm figuring out that I relied a little too much on my friend group as who I was. Now that they're all gone, it's been hard to know who I really am without them around me.

All in all, it's been a great summer, but not at all like I was expecting. I've changed a lot, and I can see how I am being shaped and molded by Heavenly Father into the person that I need to become. Overall, this summer has been hard as that shaping and molding has taken place, but looking back, I am extremely grateful to Him for helping me become who I need to be.

So when life gets hard, don't whine and complain about it. When life doesn't go your way, don't blame others or the situation you're in for it. Just know that it is all for a greater purpose. Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. He is preparing you for what is ahead, for what He has in store for you. You just have to be willing to be sculpted in the ways that He knows is right for you and for the life He has planned for you. During the sculpting process, it's painful sometimes, and hard when we can't see the end result.

So now that I can look back on the past four months, I can now realize that I've been going through a shaping process. I'm changing and growing into the person that He wants me to become. With this one month left, instead of grumbling and complaining like I have for the past 4 months, I am going to forge ahead knowing that if hard things come up, it's for my own good and that Heavenly Father wants me to go through hard changes and friends leaving to help me figure out who I am, who I want to be, and what changes have to happen to make me a better person.

This is actually about my third attempt at writing this post. At first, it was a very grumbling and complaining post about how this summer has been nothing but hard for me. The second attempt wasn't much better, until I realized how grateful I should be for what I have in this life instead of complaining about all the little things that can easily change. 

Just because my old friends aren't around doesn't mean I can't make more where I am. 

I am grateful that I have 3 jobs. A lot of people can't get one in this economy.

I am grateful that the friends I have are worthy enough to go serve an honorable mission.

I am grateful that I still have friends, instead of complaining that a lot of them have left. 

I am grateful that I have technology, where I can communicate with my friends across the world while they are serving a mission.

Just writing a few things that you're thankful for in hard times will help you tremendously. Even in the hardest situations, when you think you can't go any lower and you think you've hit rock bottom, there is always, ALWAYS, something you can be grateful for.

That's something I would challenge any and all of you to do when times get tough, or when things aren't going your way. Keep a gratitude journal, and if you can't think of anything to write, look back on your previous writings, and see what there was to be thankful for in times of struggle or in just every day life. 

I know it's helped me tremendously, and I know it can help you too.

Bloom where you're planted. Make the best out of every situation.

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.