Dear Readers,
This past year has been full of changes, to say the least. Changes for myself, for the world, and for the people around me. There is the age-old saying that "change is good." I think that in different contexts, change can AND is good, but in some contexts, change (depending on when it arrives), can be difficult to swallow, process, and handle.
For example, there are positive changes and negative changes. Both "groups" of changes, have the power to bring "side effects," so to say. Yet, these groups of changes are all driven by our "attitudes." Our attitudes within those moments, our perspectives, and our ability to handle gradual changes, immediate changes, and sudden/unexpected changes, showcase to the world our character.
I have to admit, there have been times in my life where my reaction(s) to change has been one of inadvertently using a close friend/relative as a "scapegoat." It isn't until after I allowed my negative attitude to dictate how I act, that I realized the hurt and heartache that I caused. Reflecting upon situations (as both a kid and as an adult) I have realized that had I taken time to "back away" or "step to the side" and analyzed the situation, then the outcome(s) would have been much different.
And, I think that there are various points within our lives that we feel just like this; a feeling of being "self-absorbed" within the context of our own problems that we have a negative view on change. In these scenarios, I've noticed that I have positively changed as a result of them and grown as a woman. I feel that without these instances in our lives, our growth would be stunted by the mundane facets of routines. A friend once told me that if you're feeling down, then go out and help someone else. Go bring light to another person.
However, when we are faced with change, we can choose to view it as negative (as mentioned above) or as positive. It is important to note that even when change comes across or is presented as negative, it may be difficult to see it as being a positive for quite sometime, due to the cloudy weather that may be affecting the overall perspective of the situation. Let me give you an example.
This year has been one of significant change for me. Throughout this school year, there have been times where I did not know where my job would be for next year. Sometimes, I thought I knew while other times, I wasn't so sure. This made me very unsettled. For about 3 months, I went through this grueling process, all the while not realizing that I was growing in the midst of the heartache. In my opinion, it's changes like this that grow us the most and test our "attitudes" and our ability to handle unexpected things that life throws down the slide. Reflecting back, I had no idea that this uncertainty would actually prove to be a positive thing for me and that my attitude, though it was very challenging to see at first, was changing.
I am proud and happy to say that I have a wonderful school that I will be at for next year. I am looking forward to making and establishing new friendships while maintaining the old ones. And, sometimes, it really is a cliché, but oh, so true, that "when one door closes, another door opens."
I thought that by having to leave, I would be leaving what I knew and was familiar with. But, in all actuality, I am gaining more experience as a teacher. By "moving on" as I like to call this experience, many more opportunities have come my way.
Though I can't disclose these new opportunities just yet, I can say that they are causing me to grow, flourish, and blossom, in ways that I never knew existed. These opportunities will challenge me and cause me to look at education from another standpoint and to be able to directly use my advanced education within my teaching this year. I'm excited to be able to impart wisdom into my new students along with all of the duties and responsibilities that come with saying "yes" to new opportunities.
Because, when you're 27 and in a career that you love, you have to take these opportunities when they come because they may only come knocking once.
And, for a lady that likes a roadmap and a calendar and a schedule of when things are happening, these new opportunities are encouraging me to be "okay" with not "knowing" everything all at once, but being able to gradually learn along the way.
Anyway, for those of you out there who have gone through changes (whether you consider them big or small) or are presently wading through the waters of change, please know this: it's okay. You're going to be alright. Sometimes, it's the uncertainty that pains us more than the knowing. But, once you allow space for yourself to accept the change (as hard as it may be) - then it WILL change your outlook, your attitude, and your beliefs, if you let it. That's the thing. You have to give permission for the change to actually affect your life. We can dream of change but until we actually live it and/or it comes knocking at our door, then we will never understand the effects of it.
When I think about how far I came from a shy and quiet young girl to an outspoken advocate as a teacher in the education of all students with and without special needs, I look back and think "Wow! I honestly can't believe how far I've come." And, for me, this change, this growth as a twenty-something woman, is one that I am very proud of. It has caused me to become more confident in my daily work, in my job, and in my social life. Because of this change, I know who I am in Christ and it is Him that I know who has allowed the doors to open, for opportunities to come in, and give me a hug in order to change me again.
I am so thankful for these recent opportunities and look forward to putting my heart and my soul into them to learn, to provide, to be taught, and to share/add to my knowledge.
That's all for today, folks!
Cheers!
~alex
