The Sides to Each & Every One of Us

It's funny how many sides there are to each and every one of us.

For me, there's the "wilderness camp counselor" side of myself that loves camping out, wearing nothing but gym shorts and t-shirts, hiking mountains, and being outside and in tune with God's beautiful creation.

On the flip side, there's the "all-dolled-up" side of myself that loves wearing pretty dresses, doing makeup, getting pedicures, and shopping for anything and everything.

There's the adventure seeking "I AM COURAGEOUS AND CAN DO ANYTHING" version of myself ... And then there's the fearful side that at times makes its presence known too.

There's the people-oriented side of me... And then there is also my introverted side that seeks opportunities of peace, quiet, and alone time.

There's the scholarly school-oriented version of me... But there's also the literally-cannot-sit-still side of me too.

To go even further, there's the side of me that is selfish... Seeking alone time and doing things that satisfy ME and what I want... a side that craves independence and freedom from commitment.

But then there's the side of me that desires to serve... To be present and giving towards others. The side of me that enjoys volunteering at church potlucks, speaking to elementary school classrooms, and being a listening ear to friends. It's the side of myself that fulfills me - being a servant and loving towards others.

For each and every one of us, there isn't just ONE characteristic or quality that dictates who we are and who we're called to be. We each possess multiple gifts and traits that make us unique. It's what makes us individuals. We each have different sides of who we are depending on our environment... And that is ok. We have numerous desires and goals as a result from our various experiences and encounters with people. We are a culmination of our experiences and interactions, so of course there isn't just one side to each of us. These various sides are what makes us well rounded - giving us perspective and empathy towards those who are different from ourselves.

I've realized that the more I learn and develop these aspects of who I am, the more I realize just how much I don't know... But how much I want to know. The more I explore and develop these "sides" the more I continue to understand and yet grow in curiosity.

Don't stop expanding your "sides". Continue to explore who you are. Keep pushing yourself and expanding your interests, and in turn you will learn more about yourself and the people and places all around you. EMBRACE those around you... Those who are like you, but also who are different.

xxx
- Reyna