Not an Ending

 "I'd rather be a comma than a full stop."
-Coldplay, "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"

Every time a song by Coldplay comes on I stop and listen. And that line right there describes a lot of what is going on in my life currently.

Things are changing. Things are moving. Changing. In 25 days, life will never be the same again.

At the departmental closing meeting this morning we were asked to share a highlight from our year. So many thoughts rushed through my mind all at once. Crazy things I've dealt with while on-call (if you ever want a good story, just ask me about the tattoo parlor), memories of fun things I've done with my staff, growing as a professional and the absolutely amazing experience this past year has been. In a few weeks we'll have the farewell celebration where I will more than likely cry. I've never been one for endings, even if I know that it's not really an ending. It's a new beginning.

It's the beginning of the rest of my life.

My first year of grad school changed my life forever. My second year of grad school has been about taking that change and growing into it. Becoming more ME.

I'm not the same girl who walked across the stage at Ashland to receive my Bachelor of Arts.

I want to keep moving. I want to keep growing and keep changing. I really like who I'm becoming. I don't want to stop here...I want to expand my wings and fly. Who knows where the next three months will take me...but I'm going to be ready for it.