It is no mystery that 2012 is literally knocking on our doors right now. While I find myself not so much tied to the change of the calendar year as much as I identify with the school year, it still calls for a time of reflection and "goal" setting.
When I really think about what has changed in this glorious 2011, it seems like not a lot at first. But clearly, I'm wrong. Cuz a lot has changed and I've just ignored it for a while. (DISCLAIMER: this is sounding like there is some HUGE life event, turn-a-new-leaf-confession post and it's not!) If I'd had to pick an overall motto to sum up my thoughts, feelings, and experiences, for this year it would simply be "Go for it!"
I started the year reluctant and overwhelmed to apply to teaching credential programs. I must confess that in the thicks of applications I wanted nothing more to just continue on my merry path of Davis bum life at a job where I knew I enjoyed myself. However, I went for it. With the emotional and literal support of friends and family, I threw trust to God and hit sent. Some months later, I'm half way through the program, half way to completing my little-girl dream of being a teacher and being able to use all the whiteboard markers that I want! (**When I was younger, the best gift I ever got was a mini white board that magically transformed my bedroom into a classroom, my best friend Kristen and I would have play days. I was a total weeny head about my markers, and I would always get mad at her for "wasting" my ink. How much ink does an 8 year old fake teacher actually need?!!?)
Anyway, back to the post.... Costa Rica.... my normally rational thinking brain shut off for this one and I went for it! and had one of the best vacations of my life. I'm not sure I knew what true relaxation and vacation joy was before this adventure with the girls. We were able to sit around a warm pool, with sun beating on our backs, with a DELICIOUS daquiri beverage in hand and just soak it all up.
Beach House 2011. 11 friends. 2 bedrooms. 1 bathroom. 15 decks of cards. Endless laughs. I'm known for my tendencies towards planning out details with my friends. As the beach house was getting closer and closer, there were only so many details I could take in and eventually we just went for it! And had the a blissful weekend together on the beach.
Then there was
summer. It was almost the summer in which none of us "went for it"
and we just lived the life. Pools, books, bike rides, chocolate milk, backyard
movies and bbqs. Nothing could compare. We had no real obligations to anything
but each other. Time well spent doing nothing? I'd say so.
Then there was the
weirdly exciting-yet-heartbreaking change in which people started "the
next step" We all went for it and are still going for it. This was perhaps
one of the hardest changes for me to wrap my head around. I think when it comes
to change, its the people part that I am most reluctant to accept. I must admit
I've gotten better as I've had more "practice" with important people
leaving and learning that community doesn't die with location. It's a funny
thing, really, to think about. I've learned that your heart doesn't always have
to have a home, in a physical sense. A lot of the time your heart goes with
those you love near and dear, close and far, and allowing that to continue on
no matter what is a challenge I'd imagine everyone has.
As I think about
the change that has happened, and the change that I
know will happen in 2012, I'm excited. And
scared. But I'm excited. I feel a move stirring up. Whether that be to a
familiar place like Davis (still) or the Bay Area, or somewhere new like San
Diego or who knows, I think I'm ready for the challenge. Life hasn't let me
down yet, so I'm gonna keep on trusting God and planting feet. As 2012 settles
in, I'm encouraging you to all just go for it! You really don't know, so you
might as well try!
