When I was in kindergarten I thought I had to show all of my teeth when I smiled for a photo. It didn’t matter what clever technique my mother tried to use, I wasn’t going to grasp the concept of a natural smile. Needless to say, she didn’t have to worry about spending a ton of money on school pictures that year.

But as I got older, I actually became pretty good at smiling. Scratch that. I became great at smiling.

In fact, I became so great at smiling that I eventually decided it had to go hand-in-hand with my Christianity. I believed in God with every fiber of my being, and I knew He saved me. So how couldn’t I smile?

If I wanted others to know this God, they needed to see how happy He made me…right?

Then freshman year of college hit.

And my world fell in on me.

My grandfather is a minister, my father is a pastor, and I’ve worked in a church.

I’ve seen dirt.

After living in four cities and being a part of three church-splits, I have felt my fair deal of pain. I have felt the confusion when friends begin doubting church leadership I have trusted. I’ve felt the anger when people leave the church without explaining why. I’ve felt the world tip sideways when a pastor’s secret life is exposed.

I’ve felt a lot.

But I don’t have to tell you that. The reality is if you are a Christian, you’ve felt a lot too by now.

I have now officially been in the “real world” for four years (as opposed to my first 21 years which were apparently fake).

College was rough in some aspects, but it also was the most incredible years of my life. I don’t regret anything to the point of beating myself up over it, but I do think if I had to redo the experience, there are 7 things that I would do differently. Hopefully these can help a young college “Jordan” out there (AKA a Type-A student that reads blogs like this to add to their “To Do In College List”).

The word “shy” is not the choice adjective most of my friends use when describing me, but put me with a group of new people and I am instantly the wallflower. Whether it’s a new team, new school, or new church, I’ve proven to be an introvert over and over again in situations where I’m the “new one”.

But, without fail, there always comes that one fateful day when I wake up, go to that new place, and realize that I accidentally left my filter at home.

Unfortunately for the friends I’ve made since moving to Ohio, I’ve recently noticed I misplaced my filter again.

All of the sudden it seems like half of my sentences begin with, “I know this is T.M.I., but…”

The first half of this blog was written on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, two days before I was violently attacked. For your safety, I ask that you please read the entire post before purchasing a milk frother.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 –

Yes, this is a blog about a milk frother. No, it isn’t symbolic for anything deep. I literally am writing about a milk frother.

Why would I post a blog about a milk frother?

Because it’s my blog. And the milk frother has changed my life.