Why hello there, its been a while. I know I have been slacking with this, my apologies, so whats been going on in the life and times of Whitney Turner? Well to tell you the truth, a whole lot of the same, volleyball, practice, eating and sleeping. However, there have been a few high lights and low lights that I would like to touch upon in this post.
VOLLEYBALL: Orebro Volley is yet again in turmoil regarding our finish in the regular season. Unfortunately we had 3 important games to win and we lost all 3 in 3 sets each. We could have taken advantage and killed at least 2 of the 3 teams but we were lost, our team was not present during the matches. So, we lost some great opportunities, ok, fine, its over with and there is nothing more to do, so we will be moving on from that. The result of us being in 9th place has pushed us to play in the qualifications. This means we play two top teams from Division 1 or All Svenskan plus the 10th place team for a place in the elite series next season. We have put ourselves in a slightly troublesome situation, however, I am confident in us and in myself that we will win the qualifications and will be back next season ready for vengeance. Yes, I am disappointed with how we finished the season, but will I hold on to that through the qualifications? No, definitely not. I will play my heart out these next 6 matches and every match will be played with no regrets. Mistakes will be made and great things will come from the opponents, but thats what to be expected, it is a game after all. We will make less mistakes though and more great things will come from us then from them. Loss is not an option in this situation, we will not fall, we will not fail.
As for me personally, my season has been pretty successful. I am jumping higher then I ever have before. My body doesn't feel as old as it has. One of my goals this season was to make double digit points in every match played. I am happy to say that I achieved that goal except for one match where I got 9 points. I am happy to report that I won the best attacker in the Swedish Elite league this year with 294 attacks. Its a great honor and achievement for me that I will carry forever. I owe a lot to my teammates and coaches of course, I wouldn't be where I am today with out their unconditional support. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. That being said, after these next 4 weeks, I will be needing some time off from volleyball indefinitely. This girl needs a vacation.
SWEDEN: Its nearly April and the weather is looking up. We have had uninterrupted sun for the past 2 weeks. Although its been frigid cold ever now and then. Regardless its beautiful weather with blue bird skies and clear starry nights. The one thing I am not so fond of is when the snow melts, all the trash and dirt that was covered by the snow starts to show. It makes any town or city look bad. The other day I was outside facing the sun with my eyes closed, doing what most swedes do when the sun comes out and I could have sworn I felt like I was getting sunburned. Pretty soon there will be no snow and ice left which means I won't be fearing for my life when I bike around town anymore. Its a shame that I am not able to stay here longer through the summer since I hear that is the best time of the year in Sweden. All I have ever seen of Sweden is the winter. Maybe next season I will try getting here in August so I will catch a few warm days. That is if there is a next season for me ;) We've got to finish this season out first with plenty of wins before I can say that there is a chance I will be back for another season.
ME: As for my personal life, I am doing pretty well. I have recently realized that I need to find happiness with myself with out a guy in my life. If I am constantly trying to look to someone else to make me happy besides myself then I might as well be miserable and lonely for the rest of my life. I have decided to find what makes me happy and live in the present instead of wondering and planning so far ahead in the future. Its time for me to make myself happy instead of relying on others (especially a guy) to do it. My plan is to do things that genuinely make me happy everyday. For example I could take more pictures in order to feel there is growth in my work as a photographer. I could also practice more yoga, set aside an hour every day. Eating healthier I believe will also help continue my journey on becoming a happier person in the long run. In all honesty I never thought I would be thinking this way at this age. If you would have asked college Whitney where she would be now, she would say married with kids. Things change so much in life and no one really tells you these things. People try to warn you but you think things will stay generally the same. They don't, change is a part of living. I intend on continuing to change but for the better. Like so many have said before us, "you only live once". So I am going to try and take advantage of each day and really search to find the things that make me happy. Because in the end I don't want to be looking back on my life wishing I had done something different. I want to say that I did all I wanted to do and learned so much more then I ever thought I would.
