The only thing I’ve been doing lately that involves leaving my house has been my calling at church. I work with the teenage girls 12 – 18, which means I teach them on Sundays, and every Wednesday we get together for “activities” which is what we mormons call youth group.
This has been AWESOME. I love teenagers. They are the coolest. And they always think I’m the coolest because I think they’re the coolest. The other women I work with right now are great, but a lot of women hate working with teenagers because they don’t know how to relate. They try to get all rigid and controlling, when all you really have to do is just relax and have some fun with them.
It’s been incredibly rewarding. I have very little energy throughout the day, and what I do have I devote to working for these girls. I make calenders, research future activities, make crazy ornate handouts, all because it’s just so nice to have one area where I’m needed and I can actually step up. A paycheck won’t give you a hug and come visit you before prom so you can see them all dressed up. A paycheck won’t comment on how cute you always look and ask for fashion tips, or help organizing her backpack, or come to you for help and advice and make you feel like you still have something to contribute to the world.
I’m actually surprisingly okay with not leaving my apartment most days, but these girls give me the boost I need when I’m starting to feel stir crazy.