So there’s only one week left to this semester, well actually, more accurately, 12 hours in class writing exams, watching people presenting projects or having a brunch & wrap up class of my internship. Neat eh? I’m already starting to be refreshed.

I’m going through the same sort of thing that I went through when I used to work in Saskatchewan. I remember that a t one point I was learning that sometimes I was called to do things … not my own way, that since I worked in a team, people worked differently and had ideas that were different from my own. I always thought that my ideas were the best and I liked doing things my way, just because it was easier for me. I learned that giving in to other people’s ideas, even when I don’t necessarily like them or feel they’ll work, is good. That’s part of what it is to work in a team.

Now it happened many, many times this semester in particular that I had the choice to give in or hold on to my own ideas. Just this morning I was (and I’m still a bit) frustrated with someone in one of my teams for an assignment in school, who wants to control everything. I am like that too. I like to control things and make sure they’re well done and handed in on time. I was planing on doing the editing and etc. for our assignment and hand it in, but someone in my team decided she’d do it herself. It’s how she is and tells it herself, she likes to control things. So I was frustrated because she had to be in control of everything again. It made me feel like she could not trust us. I’m learning really good stuff this morning. So anyways, instead of waging war against her, I simply gave in and told her not to sweat it too much.

Yes, I am a control freak too. And it’s good for me to be in the presence of another control freak, because I know now how some people may feel when they work with me. I know I’m kind of different in some ways because I am very laid back and I am careful at not imposing my ideas or telling people I’ll do this or that without asking them if they had wanted to do it themselves. But still. It’s really good for me to be stretched that way and learn again to give in.

I am well known to be a “laid back” type of person who doesn’t really mind about who’s doing what and what I have to do (when we speak of assignments and team projects). I dislike complicated matters and fights about the right way of doing things when actually, doing it one way or the other will give us pretty much the same mark. People actually think that my motto is either, “Whatever” or “I don’t mind”. I know these sound a bit negative, but really I don’t want to fight for my own ideas (unless the other ideas are really inappropriate), team work is about cooperation and compromises and it’s a great place to learn about giving in.

I think this is something we’re all called to do as Chrsitians. We need to let go. Let go of our pride, our ideas, our plans… so to invite humility and other people’s input in our lives, in what we’re doing. We’re a body, the Church and that’s the way it is. I will never regret what I am learning about giving in ever. It’s tough on me and frustrating, but it’s good for me.

I need to run now. But don’t misunderstand me, I do tell my opinion and share my ideas, I just don’t fight for them so to have my way all the time, I try to let people be important just as I am.