The end of 2009 finds me in a very thoughtful time of my life. I thought I would blog to reflect on what was an interesting decade…
In 2000, I ended a tough 4 years at UM to graduate with my friends. We struggled, but we made it together. I met some life-long friends during that time, and for the first time in 4 years, we’d be all going our separate ways. Right after graduation, I left and went to Mexico to stay 2 months in the mountains in Guanajuato. Ha! What a program! I think I learned absolutely nothing in those classes, but I had a great time bumming around Mexico with my dear friend J. I was bumming because I was broke after being pick pocketed in week 3/8 in Mexico City. J and I had so many funny times in that program. My host family was very interesting and I was introduced to some herbal remedies that I actually continue to use to this day.
I came back to start the process of figuring out what I was going to do with my life. I stayed in the same city and worked a bunch of random jobs. During this 3 year period, I met some wonderful friends and got closer to ones I had already met but hadn’t spent much time with. It was these relationships that helped me get to the next phase, which landed me in Atlanta.
I remember that first trip down there. I was so nervous but my then boyfriend assured me that I would be ok, and that there were tons of opportunities there for me to explore my real career interests. It was hard not to join in the enthusiasm and soon after, I moved for the first time out of my home state. I was so scared, but strangely, I didn’t have a big culture shock from the move. I really loved the area, and I went home often during the first couple of years, but eventually fewer times. The grad program I moved for lasted 2 years, and I spent two additional years working for some health agency. The experience was very valuable and I was finally settling into a career path that made sense to me. I met more wonderful people, but lost contact with many others. Every where I went though, I was blessed to find supportive people and wonderful friends. I
By the time 2007 came along, I was moving again to Baltimore, where I am still located today. I decided that I wanted to go back to school again, and this has been the toughest decision. The decision to start wasn’t so difficult, but trying to figure out how to get through it has been very tough. I’m still hanging in there though, and these 3 years have been the toughest I’ve had ever. I’ve seen some serious disappointments, lost some very close family members, been disappointed by many friends, and just not been emotionally, mentally, and physically where I think I ought to be. However, I do know that all of these things do make you stronger and after it all, I will be even better than I was before. And I wasn’t so bad, by the way.
I am so thankful for the friendships that I’ve made along the way and for my family. Even though I am still disappointed by many things and unsettled in many feelings, I trust that it will all work out some day, and soon.
2010 is going to be a pivotal year and I’m ready. Let’s go!