Living like a big kid.

The previous two quotes. As I looked through my dashboard today, I felt as if I was having one of those moments when it seems every song on the radio relates exactly to my situation. However, in this case it felt like every quote I read related to my impending departure from the Orange County Area. In less than a week I am moving to Northern California for an indefinite amount of time. (I won’t say permanently, but for the conceivable future.) Today is my going away party. I have mixed feelings about it for many reasons and I’m feeling the need to be unwaveringly positive, for fear I might otherwise have some sort of break down. Hence my two quotes.

The first is one that I’m not yet convinced I totally agree with. “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Now, aside from the fact that the diction and syntax lead me to believe this is plagiarizing Dickens, I think Mr. Lewis is offering me a good message to focus on at this moment in my life. Right now I can think 1,000 things from my past that are “better” than what I’m doing right now, but one of those things happened just yesterday. And who knows what could happen tomorrow. I’ve always said that every day you see me is the best day of my life, because I woke up and got out of bed. At this point, I have to keep reminding myself of the validity of that thought, and of Mr. Lewis’ quote, even if it means leaving everything that is familiar and comfortable to me.

And here’s why I’m willing to go out of my comfort zone: “All your dreams can come true - if you have the courage to pursue them.” Leave it to Disney to give me the inspirational push I need. I love teaching. Since I decided, my junior year of college, to pursue a career in teaching, I’ve done everything in my power to make it happen. I took credential classes as an undergrad. I student taught as soon as I graduated, at a high school I love. I got my credential soon after, and I swore repeatedly that I would not be one of “those people” who has a credential for three years and never finds a job. So from February to June I relentlessly pursued any job I could find, even those far from home. I took two, rather impromptu, trips to Palo Alto in order to show my dedication, and I was rewarded with an amazing job offer at a beautiful campus. Great school, high salary, beautiful location. What could I be apprehensive about? Well, all of this requires me to say good bye to everything I’ve ever known as home. No Disneyland. No Chapman. No constant familiarity. No loyal friends there when I need them. What awaits me is a lot of uncertainty. And that’s where the courage comes in. And more so than any other time in my life, I need to stay focused on the positives.

So thank you, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Disney. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me in my dream of being a teacher. And thank you to those of you who have been so good to me, that it makes it difficult for me to leave.