I can always go to the cliche: “You don’t know what you got till its gone.” But that exemplifies exactly what I’m talking about. I can’t imagine what my time at Butler would have been like if I hadn’t taken the time to remove myself from the routine earlier. This distance gives me a clear view of how I’ve spent my time well, how I’ve misused it, and how exactly I can use it better in the future.

Another thing: international travel builds character. When you step onto that plane for another country on your own, you are forced to open yourself in new ways. There is no place for insecurity. No longer can you sit in the backseat while other people handle issues. It’s do, or do later. So you might as well do it.

I feel like we’ve reached the point in the monologue to introduce the butterfly/cocoon metaphor, but I think that is absolutely too cliche. Instead I’ll opt for the much more savory bacon metaphor. After this semester, I know that I will no longer be that limp slab of uncooked meat, but a crispy, delicious, smoked delicacy that has much of the world saving room for on their plates full of pancakes and eggs.

Bacon may be on my mind also because I took part in the great American tradition of Brinner yesterday. Yummm.