It should be no secret; I have been M.I.A. from the blogosphere as summer temperatures score to the highest of the nineties. And the clock ticks closer to my departure to Paris, and To-Do lists continue to be ignored (or should I say, unwritten?), but I’m thoroughly enjoying the time I have left in good ol’ PA. Above are a few pictures from a weekend at my alma mater, Penn State. Returning to the university that gave me my ladder to studying France and nurtured my appreciation for the History of Art, I couldn’t help but feel rejuvenated and excited about this next step in my life, albeit sad to be officially leaving the typical American university environment behind.
As our lives continue to unfold, sometimes we may be afraid to see what awaits in the next chapter. We have this beautiful opportunity, a rare one, to choose between two very different paths. That power over the plot of our future can be understandably overwhelming. We have to digest our options, and before we can feel good about moving forward, we have to embrace the consequences whether good or bad, or both. Most importantly, we have to tune in to what our hearts might be telling us.
I’m still nervous about Paris. I’m still feeling the uncertainty of my choice. But somewhere in my decision to take a breather from contemplating my purpose in life, I came to realize that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for and the precise opportunity I’ve been working so hard the last few years to find, to make happen.
Not sure when I’ll be back to posting regularly, but it shouldn’t be too much longer! Hope you are all having a wonderful, relaxing weekend.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
So glad you are feeling more confident, albeit a tad overwhelmed (to be understood). Happy you are relaxing and enjoying PA…I look forward to seeing you soon!
Looking forward to it too!
Good to see you back. I had a similar expérience years ago but it Was about the opposite direction. My advice if any is to gofor it and follow your dream. Challenges await but there is much to discover. I am glad i did it even though i had to fight back tears when i Was at the kissing goodbye to all my family. I wish you all the best Stéphanie.
It’s a tough choice! Always helps to hear from those who have had similar experiences. Glad you enjoyed your time abroad as well!
Enjoy this time as much as possible – your feelings will sort themselves out naturally once you arrive and you’re forced to accept your decision and adapt. Just remember – the beauty of moving somewhere else is that you can always go back to your hometown if it doesn’t meet your expectations!
This is true! And I know once I get to Paris, I wont want to
– I did some digging around and discovered I may be having a quarter life crisis, apparently a common scenario for twenty-something women of our generation. It was nice to have outside affirmation that my feelings have little to do with Paris and more to do with questions about where I want to head in life. With so many doors to choose from, it’s hard knowing which one is right! I’m looking forward to Paris, and I’m so happy to have this experience lying ahead of me. Thanks for your encouragement, Lindsey – I know you’re right even if I’m not always “feeling” it.