Calabrisella Mia

Hope can only keep you hanging on for so long.  At some point we can’t wait for the promises and changes to unfold, it’s us that need to change!

January is a powerful month, it’s full of strength, promise and motivation.  It’s the time when we feel that things can change; the things from the past that were either no good for us, have run their course, or just weren’t working out.  It’s a time to start over.

Last year, was a difficult year for me.  After over 5 years in Italy, I really began to reflect on what it was I was doing here, and if I was getting out of it everything I had hoped and imagined.  I’d struggled with these thoughts for a while and quickly realized that something needed to change.  But, when you live so far from home, from your family and your closest friends, making those tough and scary decisions or changes becomes that much more intense.

I realized that I’m not happy. I’m living in a beautiful country, rich with culture and places to discover and yet I haven’t ventured far from the small city in which I live.  Italy is surrounded by so many other incredible countries that I have dreamed of seeing first-hand, and I’ve yet to see them.  I was stuck and it was obvious something needed to change!

One of the biggest things that was holding me back from living the life I had hoped to live here in Italy was my job. And so, in January, I left my job.  I didn’t have another job lined up but I knew that in order for things to become un-stuck, I needed to just cut it loose.  I thought I would be more afraid. I mean, living in a foreign country without a steady source of income would scare most people.  But, I actually felt empowered. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  With this fresh start, I’m ready to focus on myself, for once!

I don’t know what 2016 has in store for me, but I’m ready for it.  I’m ready to be happy again; to have new experiences; to live this opportunity to its fullest and to build the life *I* want.

I guess you can say that this year is all about change and growth for me! So, let’s do this!