This is a blog that I created specifically for my adventures in Ukraine.
I leave in 6 weeks! It's so surreal; it definitely hasn't hit me yet. There are moments where I feel like I start to grasp the concept of living away from all things familiar, and it overwhelms me. So, I think for now I'll just stick to focusing on the excitement factor, and completely ignore the dread of the unknown. Or maybe I just won't think about it at all, so that I actually stand a chance at making it through finals week alive!
One little thing I've been trying to live by for the past few years is to Love The Now. I know it's really cliche, but those three words have helped me so much, in embracing today and not living in the past or just sitting there waiting for the future to happen. I realized a while back through a personal experience that although change can be completely terrifying and absolutely one of the hardest things you think you have ever had to do---
life would really be so terrible without it. How can we not move forward and progress without change? How would we ever grow? It is such a deceptive little word, isn't it.. it seems that it has developed kind of a negative connotation throughout time. But it's inevitable. And it really is a beautiful thing.
Moving to Kiev will definitely be the biggest change I've ever experienced. Changing schools, going to college...those were all big changes, but I've never experienced a change this massive in my short 19 years of life. And although I am so incredibly excited for this adventure and what I will learn, I am trying so hard to just soak up the here and now beforehand. I don't want to waste these days away just daydreaming about something to come, because I am so blessed to be right here, in this place, at this time. I am surrounded by the most incredible family, friends and opportunities; and I know I can't waste them by having my mind somewhere else.
So until January 8th (or whatever day they finally decide on), I'm going to be here. I'm going to embrace it. I'm going to Love the Now.
