Have you ever thought about the reasoning behind why you meet certain people?

After having a conversation with my roommate yesterday, I've thought a lot about the reasoning behind things. Specifically the reasons for why we meet new people, become friends & become close to others. We were talking about when we meet someone new and felt that there was a specific reason we were supposed to know that person.

I had told her of an experience from last school year when I had received a priesthood blessing from my brother Jeremy. To preface the story, I was very sick one day, and went up to campus early to study for a test I had that afternoon. I was getting sicker & sicker by the minute. For some reason I texted Jeremy, told him how sick I was & that I didn't know what to do. He quickly suggested I come to the institute building to get a blessing!! I went over & got a blessing from Jeremy & his institute teacher. 

My oh my did I remember this blessing more than any other before!! Jeremy gave me an incredible blessing & I was so thankful for it. However, the one thing I recall so clearly is something he said completely unrelated to my health and healing. He said, "Bless you that you will have loving people come into your life." (Since we are pretty close & at the same university, we talk a lot. Jeremy knows just about everything. He knows that I've always struggled with friends & feeling loved. I often feel lonely.) Anyway, we hadn't talked recently about that. I know he was inspired to say that in the blessing. 

With a new school year comes meeting new people. I truly believe that some of the people I met last year were "loving people" and came into my life at just the right time to help me when I needed it most. Am I still close to those people? No, not all of them. I learned some crucial life lessons from those people and the experiences I had with those people. I went on to explain to my roommate that at the time, those people were loving people who were helping me and were there for me. Their purpose in my life evolved and changed as time went on. Regardless if I am no longer close to those people, I am still grateful for lessons learned from it and the reasonings why I met those people.

For some people, they fulfilled their purpose in my life in a short amount of time. God has a plan and will only keep the people in our lives that we need and that are there to help us, and vice versa. So when we have that feeling that we are supposed to meet someone and  know that person, it may be for a reason that is short-lived, or there may be a greater purpose behind it. Whatever it may be, follow those promptings. I have some of my best friends now because I followed those feelings I had that I was meant to get to know that person.

Always remember that everything happens for a reason. God will not put something or someone in your life that isn't supposed to be, at least for a certain amount of time. Take that in and relish in the fact that God has hand-picked some people to be in your life. How special is that?? When I think of that, I am filled with an incredible amount of comfort in knowing that.

Our God is so so good. Never forget that He is always mindful of you and has special purposes for why some people come into your life.

You Are Valued & You Aren't Your Mistakes

YOU matter. You are valued & cared for. You are not defined by your mistakes.

One thing I want to share & just shout from the rooftops to all the world is that message. Just because something happened or changed or you don't have the same people in your life that you used to, doesn't mean you are any less valued or mattered. There are still so so many people who care about you & love you. Regardless of what happens. I know this for a fact after having gone through trials & overcoming obstacles in my way. Don't ever let anyone tell you different.

You are not defined by the bad grade you got on an assignment. You are not defined by what might seem like dumb decisions you make, the amount of money you have, your job status or the job you have. You are not defined by a breakup. Bottom line is, you are not defined by materialistic things. What you are defined by is how you treat others, the love and care you show to those around you, compassion you emulate, and so much more than any material or worldly things.

I know how hard it can be to feel like you are defined by those things. I've been there many many times. I'm my worst critic and am the hardest on myself because I know what I can do and what I'm capable of achieving & where I've been before. I'm so hard on myself. And you know what? It doesn't do any good being so hard on myself. It makes things worse. Let it go.

Try to go easy on yourself and remember that you are valued regardless of your status, money, number of friends you have, or anything like that. I've felt unvalued because of a job I had where I didn't do much and felt like it was a waste of time for me. I've felt unvalued because I lost friends. When I feel this way, I know I need to somehow get out of this funk. I rely on others for help. I turn to my Heavenly Father in prayer & plead for help and just lay it all out on the table and say I can't do this on my own & need help. I know my family will always be there & that they have my back. I also have some pretty amazing friends who always lend a listening ear and jump at the opportunity to help me, you know who you are! I'm forever grateful and in debt to them!

I think you would be surprised if you knew just how many people truly care about you,  love you, and want the best for you. It might not seem like people are always there for you and care, but they do. It seems like someone sends me a note or does something to brighten my day whenever I am feeling down and really needed it the most.

I'm the biggest advocate for helping others and just being there for people whenever they need it. Please, if you are ever feeling down and need some help or just need to vent & need someone to listen, reach out to me!! I'm more than happy to help because I've been on that side of it numerous times.