There is no Beauty in Fear

Memories are some of the most precious and beautiful things. Ever.   Too many times people loose sight of these wonderful blessings and miss out on a great part of life. This little fact is something I've had to learn as I went to college.  Before college I always wanted good memories, but I never wanted them to end.  For fear of that I would either run away from having a good memory at all or trying to make the memory last longer than what it should and not making it any better.  With this fear it was hard for me to always enjoy the moment and embrace everything full heartily.  The back of mind was filled with oh no this is going to end, then what am I going to do.

For those of you that know my freshman year of college, know that going in I had just dealt with numerous deaths of family, neighbors, friends and spiritual influences that would continue basically the whole year and ending with one of my best friends dying of brain cancer that summer.  It wasn't the easiest year and as I look back, the only way I say I survived through that time was through Jesus carrying me the whole way.  Long story short, I learned how important it is to just be present and not worry about whats going to happen once the moment ends.  To make memories with who you are with and cherish them. 

My four weeks in Cambodia reminded me of this wonderful lesson, that I easily can forget.  We can get so caught up in whats going to happen the next month that the current month we don't pay any attention, missing who knows what.  Its about the here and now in life.  Making the best of what you have and appreciating what you have. 

Granted I could get caught up in the fear that the people I spend time with and the opportunities I have will forever be gone.  But I don't find that beneficial at all/I haven't found it beneficial at all.  In the end, all it does is make you depressed and fear that your good times will be gone and there's nothing to do in life.  Which is far from the truth.  Your life might be different down the road, but at least you can look back at how incredible they were instead of being in fear of what changes might happen next.  And moving on in life doesn't mean your not going to make great memories, its usually the opposite. 

Cambodia was wonderful and I wouldn't mind visiting again one day, but until then I have the wonderful memories of fully embracing a new and beautiful culture.