Almost ten years ago was the first time I ever jumped off of a cliff. I was 21 years old and in Jamaica. I remember deciding to take the chance and my heart up in my throat as I stepped to the edge. Full of fear, excitement and the unknown, I jumped.
Now almost a decade later, I am standing again with my toes dangling off the edge. The height is much more that forty feet now; it is immeasurable. And what was probably three seconds of thought before my first jump, has now turned into three months of readying myself. The longer you have to think, the more fear comes. You begin to question yourself a lot more. When jumping off a literal cliff as soon as you yell "I'm gonna do it!" you have others around you cheering you. It is the same when you announce your figurative jump.. kind of. Just as much cheering and support, but you have a lot more time to think about it.
I will stop babbling, because that is what I tend to do, while throwing in a ton of metaphors to make me feel a little less scared.
So now I jump.
I am leaving my full time job of teaching. I will end the school year at an amazing school with supportive staff and loving families and the routine of a classroom that is filled with children's laughs.. and cries (let's be honest, we all know how kids are). I am leaving it all to take a leap into the fun, creative and uncertain world of freelance.
I will be working a bit in theater, writing a lot more, creating art and filling my soul with so many things that I love so much. I am beyond excited and terrified of it all.
And even though this is my blog for all things parent related, I found it appropriate to make this post here. I am thirty years old. And in my heart I feel again like that young, hopeful twenty-four year old who first moved to NYC. I have come to terms that I will probably remain living here in the city (at least for a while, maybe not forever) and I am going to make it mine. I want Vedder to know there is always room in life to create. Art, music, love, writings, inspiration. That is the point of all of this. To create anything and everything we can while we are here. Starting over is always an option. And it's always a positive thing.
I am so excited, nervous, and inspired by this leap.
Thank you all for your support! Family, friends, coworkers, and even acquaintances. You have all factored in somehow to this jump.
Here is to new beginnings, new creations, and new possibilities.
