Looking back on 2011

Clearly my plan to go back and write about every month in 2011 went horribly wrong..... I apologize.

But I spent today really thinking about what the most important events of 2011 have been. And looking back on this past year, I realized that it wasn't all the trips I took that made it so great. It was the things I learned. 

2011 was a learning year for me. I learned an abundance of things this year that sometimes thinking about it can be extremely overwhelming. 

I began 2011 at my lowest I've ever been in my life. 

I was broken, confused, and out of control. 

Just 5 days into 2011, I was heading off to London, off to start a new life away from the chaos I had gotten myself in. I was running away from my problems, trying to find some way to escape and forget all about them. But little did I know, that I was actually off to experience some of the most helpful months of my life. Living in England, away from everything I knew, including my family, friends, and all the memories I have here was an indescribable experience. It was in these months that I came to learn so many things about myself that I had never even thought about. The experience opened me to so many new experiences that I will be eternally grateful for. 

Through all the new things I experienced I learned many great lessons. Some good, some bad, but now I realize that they were all necessary and part of the plan. 

Perhaps one of the most important things I learned (I should say re-learn) in 2011 was faith. While in England, I went back to attending church. Those Sundays I spent with my small ward in Staines, were some of the most special days I spent in England. I will never forget the feeling of serenity I felt those Sunday afternoons as I took walks around the park, those moments I spent alone reading my scriptures in the grass, and most importantly that feeling of peace finally coming back into my life. I learned about all the love that Heavenly Father gives us and that surrounds us on a daily basis, that I had clearly forgotten and pushed away. 

That knowledge that I gained continued to strengthen me and teach me even more things as 2011 continued. Even after my stay in London, and coming back to Arizona, the learning process continued. 

On August 16, 2011, I was baptized and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-Day Saints. And once again, I learned so many new things that brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and those around me. But, in all honesty, I still struggled. And for the past couple of weeks, I've been stuck in this rut and slowly started deviating from that strait and narrow path. 

You see, for some reason, I was under the impression that my learning was finished. I kept thinking of 2011 as the year I learned the most important lessons in life, and that I was done. I had learned what I needed to learn. 

It wasn't until today when I went to church after being absent for several weeks, that I learned an important lesson. And what do you know, it's not 2011 anymore. 

Learning is infinite and never ending. And even though I feel like I learned more life lessons than the average person in 2011, I'm not done. I'm actually not even close. 

But I'm also not doing it alone anymore. 

In 2011, I learned the love that Heavenly Father has for me, and has had for me this entire time I was too blind to see it. I learned about the power of the Holy Ghost and the peace and serenity that it can bring to your life. I learned to trust, forgive, and be caring. 

I learned how to be happy.

2012 has already taught me something wonderful that I had started to already forget, and I can only imagine the rest of the year will be just as amazing.