10. Dancing Christmas Fish

This little introverted fish is in awful need of some introvert-time. I guess writing a blog and whining about it will have to do for now.

And in honor of Christmas (and this being my last blog for my class) I will write with red and green colors. Yay.

1. How does chapter 14 define "renewal"? How do you define and practice renewal in your life?

I read over the header title "Self-renewal", like, three times before I realized how ironic it was that I was writing a blog about the same thing I obliviously opened with. (I think I'm gonna like this one.) What is self-renewal, you ask? And what does that look like in MY life? You have come to the right introvert.

The book Exploring Leadership defines "renewal" as harmonizing your mind, body, and soul, and becoming rebalanced. Sounds like a yoga class. I'll tell you what renewal is. Renewal is temporarily interrupting your progress to focus on repairing potential or current problems so you can continue to accomplish your goals and become better than you are. It is not humanly possible to go full speed for the entire duration of one's leadership career without regularly established times of rest. Just look at God; He proved to us that we shouldn't create a whole universe and still not consider it necessary to take a break once in a while.

This is especially important for introverts...like me. For example, it being so close to Thanksgiving break, I think more and more how much I am sick of being around so many people all the time. Don't try and tell me I don't love my friends, because I LOVE my friends. Other introverts understand. I'm just anticipating the time when I can choose when I want to be social and have a place of my own where I know no one will interrupt my solitude. Then, when break ends, I'll have been refreshed and ready for the last few weeks of college.

Work + Occasional time of renewal = Not burning out

2. Using the balcony and dance floor metaphor from page 420 of your text, think of a current situation that you are involved in. What do you observe when you move from the dance floor to the balcony? What do you see about yourself? What action will you take, using what you observed and learned, when you return to the dance floor?

As an introvert, you probably wouldn't find me on the dance floor so much as in the balcony unless I was with a few really really good friends. Just thought I'd point that out.

On a more relavant note, my being an introvert, I overanalyze quite a bit, so stepping back and looking at the whole picture is a pretty regular habit for me. For example, I am about ready to transfer from the college I currently attend to another college. The only reason why I am not the least bit worried about this huge move I'm about to make is because I have practiced trusting God and believing He has a plan for my life (otherwise, I'd totally be freaking out right now). I've given my life to Him; He can do whatever He wants with it. The dance floor in this particular situation would be my figuring out finances and residence and classes and a new church and new friends and whether or not I'll be able to pass college level algebra so I can actually BE a pilot. Et cetera.

But since God seems to like the view from the balcony and I like to be with God, I'm up here seeing that no matter what happens, God's going to do whatever it takes to make sure my tiny little life brings glory to Him. So when I, the introvert, return to the dance floor, I'll remember I don't have to focus on the chaos surrounding me. God's my dance partner and He's leading. Whether or not I think I'm in control, the music will continue to play. I don't have to control the music, I just have to move along with the beat and know God has the power to change the song if it doesn't bring me closer to Him.

Merry Christmas!