One Year Can Change Everything

As I sit at the Starbucks in Bexley writing this, I cannot help but notice how much has changed in the span of one year.

A year ago I was frantically job searching, praying that I was going to find something...anything. And preferably something within higher education. I remember beginning to lose hope, realizing that July was about to begin and feeling like I had missed my chance.

I had just started talking to a guy who lived in Missouri....so far away from him. I was discovering that I had feelings for this person. I was unsure of how to continue since my luck had been absolutely horrible when it came to relationships and love. Starting a relationship with someone who lived over 13 hours away seemed daunting. But I was also realizing that I was scared to not try because this was the first time I had felt a connection like this.

Now I sit at the Starbucks in Bexley...working on my presentations for the upcoming RA training which will kick off year two in my job at Capital University. I realize that tonight (tomorrow morning) around 2am is the one year anniversary of a conversation I had with Matt about our feelings for each other and one year since we decided to take a chance on them.

One year later I am in such a different place in my life than I was. I am happily employed in a job I love. I am working in the field I spent two years getting a Master's degree to work in. I have two buildings of my own to supervise, a wonderful RA staff to work with, and a wonderful and supportive department to work in. I'm working to plan RA training presentations that I am excited to present and I am feeling much more confident as a professional than I did a year ago. I will be working this year to help plan the state-wide student affairs conference. I have come so far in my profession in a year.

One year later Matt and I have been through much together. We have made a relationship across several states work. We have seen each other only a handful of times but we talk constantly and we make sure we find ways to spend time with each other even if those ways involve a camera and a computer. We are making it work, despite our mutual hesitations at the beginning.

So much can change in a year. If I could go back one year and tell myself that it's all going to work out, I would. But I think not knowing it would work out like this makes me appreciate it that much more.

And for that, I am thankful.