Road Trips

This week I had the opportunity to attend a wedding in Rexburg, Idaho. Now, I have to think to myself...why did I drive four hours to see a friend get married and then drive back (another four hours) the same day?

Well, it just so happens that the bride is my mission trainer! It was great to drive up there with two of the other people I served with on my mission so we could see her be married in the temple.

I don't know if y'all know this but road trips can be really long. I've never done a cross-country road trip before but I've driven from Texas to Utah multiple times, which is a 22-hour road trip, as well as a few other road trips. As I drove the four hours there and then another four hours back, I thought about how exciting road trips really are.

Road trips are usually done for a reason. Whether that reason is for fun, education, vacation, spontaneity, or something else, they give the opportunity for a good time with good people. This trip did just that, too!

There were many people I had the opportunity to catch up with as I have not seen many of them in quite a long time. One person, in particular, I had not seen in about 10 years. I'm not exaggerating when I throw that number out, either. This friend is someone I grew up with in two different places. We lived in New Mexico together on a military base and then both of our families moved to Texas after that, as well. We spent years together and our families were close. Through the years, we moved away from each other and lost touch. Well, I finally got to meet up with her again!

Now, why is this important or applicable to anything?

Networking. Networking is a key tool for us to use in our lives. We meet people every day and WE are the ones to choose how we can use that relationship. Do we keep it to a casual "I remember you but I don't know where from" type of relationship or can we continue to build it through constant interaction?

I choose the latter. Growing up, I was told I am a social butterfly and I still believe that is true! I love having the opportunity to network every day. Getting to catch up with an old childhood friend gave for an opportunity to meet others, as well. Because I got to catch up with her, I met her roommates and ended up finding out that one of her roommates and I have a few mutual friends!

Because I got to catch up with my friend again, it gives me more of a reason to catch up with others whom I've lost contact with, as well as meet others more often so that I can make those same connections and more each day.

I'm glad we have this great tool to use in our lives. I've seen miracles from networking! My current job is a job I received because of networking and it's not a coincidence.