… I am trying to heed God’s calling. I am listening to that still, small voice inside my head and realizing I can’t do it all on my own. I need the calmness and guidance God brings to my life.
… I am becoming more and more comfortable in myself. I don’t question my decisions and capabilities as much, and I am learning what it means to be independent. And the sassiness it brings to the outside me is so worth all the years I spent doubting myself.
… I am loving the single life. I’m realizing I’m not quite ready to lay my heart on the line and I’m not in the right place to put my full attention into a relationship. For once, I am content in my singleness and it feels amazing.
… I am preparing for another vacation. On Thursday, my mom and I leave on our second cruise of 2012 where we will spend 4 days on the Carnival Paradise. We stop in Cozumel, Mexico on Saturday and I’m excited for the cruise itself, as well as time to relax and soak up the last of my big vacation plans for this year.
… I am trying to stop overanalyzing a situation that went from amazing to awful in the space of a week. My heart still hurts from it.
… I continue to feel a tug in my soul to make a big move to a new state. I’ve never lived outside of Florida and haven’t lived more than 30 minutes from my mom my entire life so it scares me to death. But at the same time, I think I have to try it. At the very least, I want to keep my heart and mind open to the idea of moving to a big city.
… My vacation calendar for 2013 is already filling up. Between another cruise (we’re looking into 7-day cruises that stop in Puerto Rico!), the possibility of Bloggers in Sin City 2013, and maybe a summer trip to Montreal to visit a favorite person of mine… it’s time to start saving!
… I am learning that what I want out of life is not always going to be in line with what other people think I should be doing. Then again, whose life am I living?
… Have been contemplating getting a tattoo. Which is completely out of character for me, so we’ll see if I ever have the guts to actually do it!
… I am preparing for a month-long sabbatical from blogging and social media. I’m really excited about it and interested to see how it quiets my mind and helps my productivity. But I’m also worried about being away for so long and if I can stay away!
… I am living in the moment. I am content. I am open to what’s coming up next in my life. I am happy.
So much exciting, good things going on for you! Your travel plans both immediately and in 2013 sound great. While I didn’t love moving to a different state for the past year, it was so good for me in many ways. If you have the opportunity to move and it’s something you really want to do, I vote go for it 🙂 I’ll miss you while you’re away but it’s also so important to take time for you. I hope that What’s App isn’t part of the no- social media plan? 😉
I’m still trying to decide if I want to move to a big city because *I* want to do it, or because it’s something that’s expected of a single girl in her twenties. I’m not certain, but I do know a move will happen in the next year or so. If not to a new state, then definitely a new city in Florida. I’m craving change.
And yes, What’s App is not part of my digital sabbatical plans! Just basically taking a month off blogging, Twitter, & Facebook. I’ll still be reading blogs (though probably not commenting as much) and still available through email and texting. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear about the heartache this week, Stephany.
My 2013 vacation schedule is filling up as well. BiSC is a big maybe too! (I can’t decide whether I want to use that money for a trip somewhere else, since I’ve been this year.) Maybe if I go, we’ll finally meet!
Oh, I hope you go! It would be amazing to finally meet you. If not, I’ll have to find a way to come to Texas because gosh darnit, we need to MEET. 🙂
I think a trip to Montreal is the best idea you’ve had EVER 😉
But seriously. Between BiSC, your cruise and *hopefully* coming to see my beautiful city, 2013 is sounding pretty darn amazing for you.
& as for the single life and learning a bit more about your independence, I think that if anything, the situation just taught you how independent you ARE and that you don’t need someone (like that) to ruin a great vibe you’ve got going for yourself. Getting to know YOU and what YOU want before including someone else in your life is incredibly important, and maybe it takes us a bit longer, but when we finally open our hearts up to a relationship I know it’ll be SO worth it because we spent so much time looking for a good thing. 🙂
Have a good weekend! I’m going to e-mail you back just before you leave for your cruise so I can get some good details when you come back. 🙂
I will somehow make Montreal in Summer 2013 happen! I’ve never been to Canada and I think it’s time I went. 🙂
Have you thought about just moving to another town in Florida (or maybe even just moving out of the apartment you share?). I say that just because you do have a close relationship with your mom and you might end up not getting as much out of moving out-of-state as someone else. I’m not *that* close with my parents, so it wasn’t as hard for me to move states. But it might be a bit of a culture and life shock. For you, I vote for baby steps.
I think that might be really wise, it would definitely lessen the shock! I didn’t have issues moving thousands of miles away from my family (we’re close but not SUPER close) and staying away, but I know that it can be really rough too when you ARE close.
I have thought of that. Right now, I’m trying to figure out if moving to a big city is something *I* want to do, or something I want to do because it’s something I think I *should* do as a single twenty-something. If that makes any sense. I’m more open to the idea of moving to Orlando or somewhere a few hours away so I’m not *as* close to my comfort system, but also not so far away that I couldn’t visit on weekends if I wanted to.
Just moving out of my apartment to another place in the same city doesn’t appeal to me as much, because I’d still be too close to my comfort system. I would be at the same church, be able to see my mom as much as I wanted, etc. I think I need to place myself in a completely different city and learn to stand on my own two feet & not rely on my mom for everything.
And I have no doubt it would be a culture/life shock, no matter how far away I moved. Orlando would be a shock and so would NYC. (But, of course, Orlando would be less shocking than NYC, but still a shock.) Right now, it’s just something I’ve been pondering. I do know I am looking at other cities/states for my next step. And who knows where that will be! I just want to keep my heart open to a big change.
/end novel-length comment. Ha!
Wow a month long sabbatical from social media? You’re brave! I don’t think I could do it. 🙂
Sorry to hear about whatever happened this week that took a turn for the worse 🙁 Hope you have a restful and relaxing weekend!
Haha, it’s going to be hard for me to be away for that long! I’ll still be reading blogs, just probably not commenting as much. But I just want to take a month off from social media & my own blog to find my focus again. I think it’ll be good for me!
This is so great for you. I think I am getting closer to that small, still voice of God. Probably not as close as He would like, though, and I know that’s something I need to work on. I think writing more and meditating (praying) more will help with that. It seems like we’re both making strides in the same areas of life. I hope you have fun on your cruise!
I think Allison’s comment was insightful about changing things up (see my two cents above) but I also know that sometimes, when we KNOW we need to do something big, it can be too tempting to draw it out with only half steps, you know? Whatever comes of these twinges, I’m excited for you! So glad to hear that overall, this is a time of real growth. Those times are precious, even if they are sometimes accompanied by growing pains!
Thanks, Amanda! It’s just a little something I’ve been pondering, no real steps have been made but I do think when I do start searching for a job again, I’ll be looking in cities/states farther away. I need to force myself out of my comfort zone.
I too am in that middle place right now. Feeling the tug of wanting to create and grow into my own life, yet wondering if I could really pull any of it off. I wish I had something insightful piece of advice for you, but really all I can do is relate. On the tattoo note? It’s so not something I would do, but I consider it every so often.
“Feeling the tug of wanting to create and grow into my own life, yet wondering if I could really pull any of it off.” Love that. Exactly how I am feeling. You get me. 🙂
I was more certain on the tattoo thing last week than I am this week. My want for it ebbs and flows. I really want to make sure it’s something *I* want to do, because I have a tendency to follow the crowd…
I understand! I hate the idea of inking myself in such a way but the idea of having a permanent reminder, a symbol, a guide appeals to me.
I am glad you are feeling more at peace with where you are at in life. I feel the same way about my single status. Part of me wants to meet someone, but a big part of me is really happy with the life I have built…
So exciting that you have another vacation this week!!!
Exactly! There is a part of me that wants to meet someone… but then there is this part of me that is happy with my single status and just wants to focus on myself for now. But I guess we never know when love will hit us! I’m remaining open to the idea of it, but also realizing I am okay and even happy (!) being single. It’s a nice feeling.
I have always been super close to my family. I never lived more than three hours away from them and went home most weekends during college and at least once a month during graduate school. When I finished my education, I deliberately moved to be closer to them at only an hour away so that I could do week night dinners and weekend shopping trips with them.
And then I followed my heart and moved to North Dakota and shortly after that Germany and now Turkey. Without a doubt it was the best decision that I have ever made. Without a doubt it has been the hardest thing that I have ever done. I do miss my family and getting to do regular dinners with them. By the time I see my parents again, it’ll have been almost a year to the day since I last saw them.
But it’s worth it. What I gained in return for leaving the area is priceless to me. Best of luck.
Thanks for sharing, Kendra. It’s helpful to know that from someone who is close to their family. It would be a hard decision to leave and do something more with my life, but I think what I would gain would be worth all the growing pains.
Love this post!!!!!!
Being content with being single is a great sign…it means you’re becoming rather content with who you are 🙂
Travel it up! Glad cruises are a good option for you…I get sick from cruises (think vertigo), so I stick with plane and train travel. haha.