Hope and Peace and Stress and More Hope

"Can you do this?" "Can you do THAT?" "THIS needs done FIRST' "WHY ISN'T THIS DONE YET?" DO, DO, DO, WHY, WHY WHY. 

If one ever has the pleasure of being in and around an FFA chapter during the spring, then the exchange of words, chaos, and disorganization of it all is fairly well represented with those few sentences written above. To put it politely, it is a ginormous mess. I often find myself thinking why? Why did I put myself in this position? Why is everyone so tense? Why is everyone driving me nuts? And why can't I just get a break? 

We find out a lot about ourselves and others when we are placed in high-pressure situations. The way we treat others amongst a conflict speaks a lot to our true character. One of the most wonderful things about the spring season in FFA is the fact that I have a team of officers, both district, and chapter, who will work just as hard alongside me (most of the time they keep going when I need a break) and make my life better. They give me hope that soon all of this struggle will soon be over. The banquets will be completed and the CDE's will be finished all in due time. 

For these reasons, I am able to draw a lot of parallels between this time of year and the celebration of Easter. For those of us who practice in the Christian faith, because of all of the miraculous events that took place on Calvary, and then later in the tomb, we have hope. We have hope that nothing is that bad or that a struggle will ever be too great. All of these feelings of which I am sure we are all very grateful for.

If the stress of life and the day to day grind ever feel like a giant burden on your shoulders,  keep somethings in mind. 

1. When you think it can't get worse it will, but HEY, that's okay right? Just keep rolling with the punches!

2. Never give up hope. In the grand scheme of things, our daily struggles are pretty minor.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter season, and also I hope that everyone REALLY enjoys getting back all of the things they gave up for lint ;). 

Garrett Craig

NCD Vice President