Being on campus this semester, as a student at one school and an instructor at another, has caused me to reflect on my college years as an undergrad. Of the memories of that swarm to the surface, here is the one I remember best:
As I was frantically preparing for a day of studying (the handsome men on campus), my contact lens ripped, and I didn’t have another one to replace it. Opting against wearing my hideous glasses (and risk looking studious), I bravely set forth from my dorm to traverse the campus, sans vision. Immediately I thanked my lucky stars because walking towards me on the path was my tall, dark, and handsome man. “Hey, good looking,” I called out to him—only to discover a few steps later that it was not my boyfriend.
It was my professor.
Smarter people than me would have dropped out of school at that point, but I wanted to correct my error. “I’m so sorry, sir,” I quickly mumbled. “If I had known it was you, I never would have said that.”
Somehow, perhaps in a grand gesture of grace, my prof did give me a passing grade in his class; but the real lesson I learned was that even ancient, forty-something year old college professors don’t like to be insulted about their looks. The real lesson was that people are people—even if their age or gender is different than mine. I’m glad to say that I gained some much-need maturity that day.
I don’t remember all my blips of maturity, all the life-lessons that have made me into the profoundly more refined person that I am today (no comments from close friends please), but I’m thankful I had them. Sometimes, when I remember events from my past, I feel like I’m in the mind of another person. Was that really me?
Change and growth are essential for emotional and spiritual health; if we’re not moving forward, we’re stagnating. Pursuing maturity is an essential and worthy endeavor. Perhaps, though, it’s good to remember where we came from, to blush a little at our previous blunders. A little humility is worth far more than an abundance of wisdom.
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I’ve been on a long path of healing the last 4 years–emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Standing where I am today is so much better and different than 4 years ago, even 1 month ago. I write so much of what is on my heart and in my head. I keep journals and massive amounts of email. I enjoy going back and reading over those entries because it helps me to see just where I’ve grown and reminds me of those places that need more work. I can relate to the question of was that really me? The things I read do not feel like I am reading about myself. It feels like a stranger but that good to be reminded of where I was and see wher I am now because I feel it will help me from going backwards and want to keep pushing forward.
lisa
What a great idea! It’s so important to learn from our struggles, otherwise the experience is wasted on us. Thanks for the good reminder.
I too am thankful for all my little slip ups along the way. Slip ups build character and aid in our path to growth and maturity. I agree that it is always a good thing to reflect on where we came from, where we have been, etc b/c it helps us more forward and also appreciate how God has worked in our life over the years, to bring us where we are today.
It’s not easy to be thankful for the slip-ups when they happen, but they can end up being fun later.
Oh the taste of humble pie! I’m a little chubby thanks to my constant serving of the dish!
You’re so right…..the maturity that comes from such a lesson is like being refined as gold. If you don’t learn from your blunders, there may be no hope! 😉
haha! I’ve eaten too much humble pie, too!
It takes a lot of growth to get to the point of Seeing all those blunders as Grace-full moments TO GROW. 🙂 And, me, too…so thankful my trip-ups were used for good!
Your words are life giving, Heather!
Rich blessings as you reflect with gratitude.
Thanks for your encouragement, Amy! Your words are giving life, too. 🙂
God uses blunders, mishaps & screw-ups to refine us like gold! I am soo thankful that God doesn’t give up on us each time we mess up!
Thank you for such good, insightful words Heather!
ME TOO! That’s one of the things I love most about him. <3
Ha! I love this story. And I think the ability to laugh at (with) ourselves is one of the surest signs of maturity. 🙂
I laugh at myself all the time, though I tell myself I’m just laughing near me. Love you, Holley!
Something similar happened to me in college; thanks for the smile and a good memory (mine turned out a little better I guess).
Love this! It reminds me of all the slip ups and mishaps that I have in my past, yet I am still loved by my creator!
Thanks for sharing your heart!
-H
Praise the Lord!
“Sometimes, when I remember events from my past, I feel like I’m in the mind of another person. Was that really me?”
This is exactly how I feel when I experience the memories of my embarrassing past. Was that really me? How awful! Yet, I know that every foot-in-the-mouth, every dumb thing I did, has helped me mature and grow and learn. I am grateful for those experiences now!
Time is a strange phenomenon, isn’t it? I wish I knew how to capture that feeling better. Glad you know what I’m talking about.
Hi Heather! I enjoyed this post! Laughed at your stories and laughed at myself remembering blunders I made in high school that makes me blush until now.
But you’re right. We’ve grown and sometimes it takes these funny circumstances for us to learn important things and mature. I learned a lot from my hilarious mistakes and the past and I definitely wouldn’t want to make the same mistakes again. lol
God bless your heart, sister! Much love!
Sounds like we’d really cause a lot of chaos if we spent a day together. lol
Great story! We are never done growing up, I find. I’m 44 and still growing, still moving forward. And along with growing, and aging, is less reliable eyesight…so I will make sure I take your story to heart! :0)
Love this! Some of my favorite people are little old ladies who act like they’re kids.
Wait! I wasn’t calling you a little old lady! haha
I had to crack up when I read your story! There are some days when I feel like my life is one great big growing moment. If pressed, I can think of things I’ve learned along the way but I hope I never share the knowledge in a way that makes everyone think I’ve somehow got it all together.
I’m sure I’ve lost a lot of the things I’ve learned over the years, but I hope the cumulative effect is pushing me forward. 🙂