A Very Merry Christmas Message
We’ve heard the saying and others similar, “You never realize the true value of something until it's gone,” or “To truly see the worth of something, you must separate yourself from it.”
These statements could not be more true. But why does it have to be this way? Why do we have to lose hold of something to realize how much we miss it? I guess that’s the very definition of missing something; something has to be gone in order for us to miss it.
A key theme from my year abroad was the word “temporary.” Nearly everything around me and everything I did was temporary: I lived in temporary homes; made countless temporary friends; met temporary people; did temporary work; encountered temporary opportunities; planned my next temporary adventure; and traveled temporarily.
Constant goodbyes to friends, homes, animals, countries and experiences made me crave permanence more than ever. I loved seeing new people and happenings enter my life but hated watching them go. My life at the time and everything physically around it was impermanent. I was separated from permanence, which is then when I saw the value of it.
People travel for different reasons, and I came to see how some travel because they don’t have a permanent anchor in their lives. They’re missing something steady that keeps them rooted, whether that be people, faith or a purpose. So, they continue on. I’m jealous of those who can seemingly travel forever, experiencing freedom with no strings attached, but I can’t help to think they’re missing out on so much more… more stability and permanence amidst a life of constant change.
I realized that the only permanent anchors I will ever have in this life are two things: God and family. I started to crave those two things more than ever, and my eyes began to open to their true value.
Yes, experiencing new adventures, surroundings and people is great — it only adds to your life story and builds your character and values. In my experience, however, nothing can truly fill you like things that take time to build… i.e. your family, your faith. After building, you can find permanence, stability, love and an anchor in these things.
Out of all the beautiful places I’ve been and amazing people I’ve met, home is my favorite place to be and family are my favorite people to be with.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2025!
In light of the holiday season, we’ll be taking a pause from our regularly scheduled Australia programming and will resume in the new year. Thanks for following along!
I agree KK. Very well said