A New Journey in a Familiar Place

So, I’ve moved home. I really thought after I moved out last year, it was the final goodbye. I had great plans to find a small apartment with my boyfriend and learn to struggle through our 20s, because great things can come from struggling. Needless to say, I’m surprised that I am so ecstatic to be here, and though this isn’t the change I wanted, I’ve embraced it. There are many changes occurring right now in my life, and I feel like I’ve come back to a familiar place to embark upon an entirely different journey because of those changes.

I am always surprised at how our surroundings often reflect the way we feel inside, but the opposite is also true; our environments can serve to transform our emotions and temperaments. This is why I am surrounding myself with different people and belongings on purpose. I think the alterations I have recently made to my environment can serve as a catalyst for internal growth and change. For instance, I moved into a room in my parents’ house which I have not yet occupied. I bought new furniture, and took great care in creating a comfortable atmosphere in which I can relax and study. I am amazed at how these simple modifications have brought about a true sense of internal peace.

On top of this, I am being forced to surround myself with a new group of friends. I have steered clear from forming relationships with other women for a while, fearing a repeat of the superficial bonds I have made with petty females in the past. But, recently, I have fostered great friendships with many people – women and men – who are fun, interesting, and loyal. I only desire to forge lasting friendships that can survive the mistakes and imperfections that friends (and I) often make and have.

Then there’s the new graduate program, and with that comes a practicum experience each semester and my new graduate assistantship duties. This is a change I am looking forward to but also fear, due to the intensity and workload of the program. I am assigned to an assistantship within my department of study, so I am hoping I will be assisting with research, rather than administrative duties. I have so much to offer and a lot of experience to bring to the table. I want to be challenged. I have no idea where I’m going to be placed for my practicum, but it will definitely be within the mental health field.

People often decide not to return somewhere or do something twice, because they do not want to have the same experience. I say that multiple experiences can come from one setting, and one action can have different meanings in different settings. It really is what you make of it. I choose to be happy, healthy, and full of optimism, and I hope you do, too.