Journey Forward: A Letter to Myself One Year Ago

Dear Rebecca, 

You are burning the candle at both ends.

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This is what you do. It is going to take it's toll on your body, your heart, your patience and your relationships. You will break and be remade (both figuratively and literally).

Things work how they are supposed to though, for reasons you have yet to see. 

The effort you've put in now, the pain, the exhaustion, the stress will pay off in spades. 

You will make it to Bali and have a week of wonderful. 

You will renew friendships and reaffirm things you know about yourself but have put on a shelf; that you are strong, that you are able, that you need to change your life and it cannot wait. 

You will find the strength to do this thing because you know it is your future. Don't settle. Find balance. 

You can't change anyone but yourself; this is your time for you. 

You will heal and learn to trust God and the people He puts in your life. You will learn to love in a way you didn't know was possible. 

Everything will be topsy turvy but you will find your way. 

Your year will be full of adventures you haven't planned and people you've never met. 

The things you value will change but the most important things will remain. You will learn that you don't have to please everyone all the time. You will get better at saying no. You won't feel the need to over-analyze and gain approval of every facet of your relationship because ultimately, it isn't about what works for others. 

Be confident and trust your instincts. After all, you have to take risks to truly gain. 

Playing it safe won't cut it. 

At the end of this year, you will still be burning the candle at both ends, but your time will be spent in dramatically different ways. You will be in school and you will be academically challenged for the first time. Skating by won't work anymore.

You will spend your weekends going non-stop. You will get lost in those weekends and it will keep you going. 

Take time for yourself and the things that restore you.

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Keep putting one foot in front of the other and things will work out the way they should. 

Chelsea from LifeIsASunset hosts the Journey Forward challenge. 

Please stop by Chelsea's page if you are interested in other journeys. 

She has had an incomprehensible year. 

Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. 

What She's Doing Now

Remember when I went to Bali for that gorgeous wedding?

Everything was exquisite. The bride was chic and the groom was handsome. 

The decor was tasteful and the location was idyllic. 

Said gorgeous bride, lives in Hong Kong with her hubby now. Here's what she's up to these days...

Yes, she's in this video. Can you find her?

10 Day Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: 6 Places. 

1: Bali

This summer, my best friend got married in Bali. It was such a beautiful island and well worth the travel. 

2: Rothenburg, Germany

This town stole my heart. The architecture made you feel like you were in a fairy tale. While we were there, it started to snow and the snowflakes were beautiful and huge! 

 The Schneeballen (which translates as snowballs) desserts were amazing as well. My favorite was the chocolate one with a hazelnut nougat filling. So unbelievably delicious!  

Schneeballen

3: In front of the Temple of Poseidon in Greece

Those little people in the middle are my mom and me. I think out of all the places I went in Greece, Mars Hill was probably my favorite because of the view. Normally, I would have chosen the waterfront location, but everything was so bare and rocky by the Temple of Poseidon. It felt desolate to me. I've heard that Santorini is breathtaking and next time I go to Greece, I hope to check it out.

4: Mars Hill

5: Venice, Italy

Venice was a really cool town. I wish we had spent more time there. There were so many beautiful glass art pieces there. I'd love to go back and take a boat out to the glass blowing factories. 

6: Siena, Italy

I loved Siena. There were so many cafes with alfresco dining available. The roads in town were so narrow that many buses were unable to travel through. 

Tell me about your travels! Where have you traveled? What is your favorite type of thing to do when you go adventuring?