RELATIONSHIPS

I've been thinking a lot about relationships. Who will I be friends with after graduation?? Will it be like high school where I still communicate with ONE PERSON? (I pray not). It is becoming even more real to me since Im spending my last semester in school working an internship, almost 200miles from where I spent the last 3.5yrs of my life building relationships. It's really putting some of my friendships in perspective. Who is IN THIS for the long run, who even cares??

I took the Greyhound to a Research Conference presentation in Huntsville this past week,and right before getting on my connecting bus in Houston, I was listening to some people's conversations. I was riding the bus for 1.5hrs and would be at my destination, a man behind was heading to Los Angeles, a few people to Dallas, a woman in the seat next to me COnroe, TX (20minutes before my destination.) BUt surprisingly, we were ALL on the same bus. It made me think some about life and relationships.

We may all be on the same bus, but we don't have the same destinations, and half of the story is knowing who is going the distance with you and cultivating THOSE relationships, BUT also, building those bonds with some of the people who may NOT be going the same distance you are, helps keep life in perspective.


ON THE OTHER END OF THINGS! To truly be successful in our relationships, how ever many each person decides to cultivate, it is CRITICAL to be INTENTIONAL about friendships. In the first stages of friendship, at least in my experience, it is not as critical to be intentional, because it sometimes leads to a FORCED friendship, but after the foundation has been set up, then, when you move, or graduate, or start doing whatever with your life, chilling till 4a.m. in the dorm lobby doesn't just happen. Plans MUST be made.

Pure Intentions??? I think not

Libya vs Sudan
Keep things in perspective

Vote Ayo for.........

Troy's a loner and Ayo doesnt like hugs.

I found out about the 5 love languages a few years ago, and I thoroughly enjoy telling my friends about it, because it sorta opens up a whole new world and insight on their relationships.

SO, it was 3a.m. and we (myself, Nulia and Troy) had just gotten back from 6th Street, and started randomly talking about the difference between Men and women and some of the communication roadblocks.

Of course I didn't come up with the 5 love languages, Dr Gary Chapman did, and is making a lot of money on his book on the topic.
The central idea is though that most people have their preferred manner of being shown love, The five listed include
Acts of Service,
Physical Touch,
Gifts,
Quality Time,
Words of Affirmation.

I personally think that it is REALLY important to know how the people you love, friends family and whatnot communicate their love because its like a real language. If a guy is a dating a girl who is a Words of Affirmation person, and he keeps buying her gifts, because that's his language, he may think he is communicating his love, but he might not be understood. It'd be like speaking to a Vietnamese person in Mandarin, you may thing you're communicating, but unless he's bilingual, you are not.

But, when these 2 people sit down and talk about how they receive and give love, then they can be able to find an acceptable meeting point, to where he says more I love Yous for her satisfaction, and she can transcribe his gift bringing nature as LOVE.

So, with that being said, Troy and I were citing that we were both Quality Time people, and I added that people also love themselves in the way they show love, so QT people CHERISH their time alone, and Troy says, "Yes, I am a loner" and it probably was the most mind blowing statement of the night to Nulia (who has been very good friends with him for over 3yrs) because some of the stuff he says and does MAKES SENSE.

I also had to explain why someone who is NOT a Physical Touch person (me) gives hugs. {I adapt to the people around me who I love and a few of my friends are Physical Touch people, so I have to hug them and all that extra!}

The overall point of this tale is to make an effort to understand the people you love and how to make sure they KNOW you love them.

UPDATE!!!!

Its been a minute since I updated, for which I sincerely apologize! I have been busy, while not TOO busy to update my blog, but also I haven't had much to say.

UPDATES:
May 14, 2011 I am graduating from my beloved Sam Houston State University at 9:30a.m.
I am SO DARN excited!

LAst weekend I got to catch up with some Bearkat family at TAMU ASA #THISTIMEFORAFRICA event! It was pretty much a mix between happy and sad, because I was so happy to see everyone and be a pseudo-college student again, but then SUPER SAD because I knew it was very temporary, and after the weekend I'd be back to #LIFEOFANADULT! LOL! I MISS my roommate NANCY Iyoha like crazzzy! And really everyone else in SHSU ASA, Miss Holly, JJ, Davina, CHIMA, LIL JERRY, AHMED, VANESSA, and just the whole crew. You all make me smile!!!

What else is there to update on: Internship is going! Keeping pretty busy, learning a LOT! I feel like with my internship, I get to be in different WORLDS every day with all the different concerns people have! I think that is my favorite thing so far! And I LOVE meeting people and making friends, Even though its hard to really define someone as a friend if you've only known them for 6weeks, cuz y'all know how PEOPLE are.


WHAT ELSE?

Hmm with graduation comes many concerns, and a huge part of it is $$$$$$$$. I'm not necessarily sitting up WORRIED about it cuz I know God's got it all figured out, but i think about it sometimes, I have less that $700 to last me the rest of my internship, rent not included! Which is DEFINITELY accomplishable, (I bet that is not a word); BUT, Its not as though internship ends one day, the next day I have $$$ coming in! I wish it were, but, I doubt it! SO, Gotta pretty much start figuring out what I WANT to be doing, and how to do that, with no $$!

We'll see how it all turns out.

RANDOM EVENTSSSSS

ITS SO CRAZY how life turns out!
I went out today to get a few additional items for my work closet, and right as Im waiting for an available dressing room I see JORDAN.

I should explain who JOrdan is.
Freshman year of college, I used to hang out with Marque and Jordan, a random black guy and his random white roommate who lived in the dorm across from me.

I hadnt seen Jordan since freshman year, cuz he changed schools, and it was just SO WEIRD cuz it made me realize how many RANDOM people I know in different places in their lives. And to run into a friend from HUntsville (2008) in Austin (2011). Its also really cool having that "Hows Life going?" conversation.

LAst year about February, I was at HEB in Austin at like midnight with a friend, and I ran into JOsh, my mentor from freshman year, who also left the University.

SO I guess I have to keep my eyes open around here.

ONE WEEK DOWN! MANY TO GO

So, I completed my first week as an Intern in the Office of State Representative Eric Johnson in the 82nd Texas Legislature.
How was it, you may ask??????????? It was pretty much everything I hoped it would be.

Here are the silly things I am excited about!
1. Having my OWN desk! Lol, I love it. But bringing a picture might be doing the most cuz Its not that big, and I REALLY want to make sure its SUPER Organized all the time. Those who know me know, that is a challenge.
2. Dressing up! I do like being Business Professional all the time. Its probably gonna get old, but until then, I am LOVING IT. Forces me to take myself seriously, but not TOO seriously, never that.

Cant think of anything else right now. My job entails many things from checking the mail and answering the phone to helping with constituent correspondence, reading up on Bills proposed to the Legislature. a.k.a. All potential new laws for the Citizens of Texas. I will discover more as we go.

Learned so many things this week that I could have NEVER learned in a classroom or a textbook. Example:Introducing myself. I think I met and introduced myself to over 50people this week,and My name is ___________ evolved so much from AYO, to my full first name to my ful first and last name to a few variations of it. At one point I thought to myself, you are TERRIBLY inconsistent! So I finally decided I'll be Ayo Shittu. May not sound important, but IT IS, at least to me.

Another thing I learned this week was to always be thankful. As I ride the bus down Congress Avenue and begin seeing the Capitol on the Horizon, I get really thankful that the Lord saw it fit to grant me my heart's desire when I let him know I wanted to be here. So, everytime I get caught up in what could have been I am reminded to be thankful and think of where I COULD BE.

On that note PURSUE HOLINESS
EAT 'EM UP KATS

AND Goooooooo TEXAS

Prettty cool, huh?

Letter from God!

My daughter, My son

My cherished one, do you want supernatural strength and energy? I hope so, for it is what I have already given you and long for you to recognize. As My child, you are called to walk in the supernatural, to elevate your mind to things above and not on earthly things. You citizenship is elevated in heaven protected and secure. You are a whole new being...one who is loved and seated with Me already. Live now as if you are already there, as unblemished brides of my Church.

My instructions for you this day are these; inhale my sweetness! Inhale the very essence of who I am. Love me with your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Keep your heart, soul, mind and strength pure and holy, that you may be kept safe. Make the sacrifice. I promise you it will be worthwhile. I know you need help, which is why I have give you my Spirit to guide you and my Word for you to hide in your heart, do not shun my grace.

I am ever present with you no matter what you may be experiencing or feeling. NO matter what you have done. I am present in all your trouble (PS 46:1) I am not bound by your emotions or situations. I am your ever adoring and loving father who delights in you every moment of your life (1 John 3:1). I enjoy your times of quiet rest. Your times of respite are very precious to ME and enable Me to speak in ways I otherwise could not. Nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8:38-39)but your choices may separate you from my wisdom. I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3). If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29).

TO BE CONTINUED

ALL MOVED IN

SO, If you read a few blogs ago, I spoke of applying for more internships because I didnt get one I wanted. I learned SO MUCH through that process, One of which being- Rejection SUCKS!

No, seriously! BUT, Now I will be working an Internship in the OFfice of a STate Rep from Dallas. NOw, without getting into strenously boring details, THis internship will be me doing the EXACT SAME THING I got rejected for, except with no $$ which is COOL, because my FATHER who provided me with this AMAZING opportunity will see me through this $170 to live off a month deal. Father, again, meaning the ONE who knew me before my parents were even born.

I just moved into my apartment in Austin, TX.

I am so eternally grateful, because i WANTED THIS SO BAD! And prayed often about it this summer, and fall semester. And God is giving me what I want in the way that BEST brings him Glory......''HE IS TIGHT LIKE THAT!!!!!!!

So, I will be keeping you all updated as I live and thrive in a NEW city, make new friends and see what the Lord has in store for me.... I CANT WAIT