When What You Want Isn't Actually What You Really Want

Yesterday something really great happened! I had one of those moments that just makes everything seem worth it. All of the sudden all of those closed doors, setbacks, obstacles in the road, stress, confusion, and even disappointment became worth it to me in that moment.  I'll explain about this in a minute, but I firmly believe that these "fleeting" moments really do come to all of us if we are looking for them and allow ourselves to feel this way.

What happened yesterday?  You are probably wondering, haha.  And when I explain it will seem really simple.  Because it is actually.

I was at my internship preparing my meeting to teach to what are called "wellness advocates" for various departments here on campus.  These meeting days are always my favorite of the month because they stretch me, are fun, and I grow a lot from them. In other words, they are a lot of fun because I get to speak and teach to several faculty members and/or professors about wellness and they are scary because I get to speak and teach to several faculty members about wellness.  Haha do you see my dilemma?  Sometimes the things in life that stretch us are scary and wonderful for the very same reasons!! And just because something scares you does not mean that you should not do it.  Often times we have to chase after whatever we want with great amounts of courage and confidence, and that can be nerve-racking!  Anyway, this meeting went great and as I was teaching a simple presentation about eating whole grains and I felt overwhelming sense of gratitude for that opportunity.  To teach about oatmeal?  Haha yes, but not entirely.  You see, that very moment I realized yet again that I am in the right career path for me and I would not have found this path had it not been for all of the seemingly closed doors that have shut before me.

For me, the career path of corporate wellness would not have opened up if I hadn't experienced getting sick and regaining my health nor if I hadn't experienced not getting into the nursing program.  What I thought I wanted was to be a nursing student with perfect health.  But what I really wanted did not include either of those plans.  I am not a nursing student, and although my health is very good it is certainly not perfect and I have had to work really hard to heal over time. And this journey of healing as helped me find my passion about learning about health and wellness.

For all those reading this, I challenge you to look at your life and see what closed doors have led you to the right doors. In reality, I think that often what we want isn't actually what we really want.  Because God often has something much greater in mind than we would ever come up with for ourselves.