Moving Into the Real World

After touring about twelve places, we signed a lease.  I get the keys to my first apartment on Saturday, and I'm nervous.  Is that weird?  But I'm excited, too, about the attic apartment in the Victorian house, walking score of 95, lively neighborhood, and slanted ceilings that will prove to be a moving challenge.  

Everyone says I'm in the "real" world now-as if I was in a fake world before-but I can see it.  Signing a lease, working from 7:30 to 5:30 Monday through Friday, paying bills.  Even though I do those "real" things," I still feel like a kid.  I reflect on who I was last July and can see growth and maturity, but a long road still waits ahead.  

I like this new phase of life... backyard dinners with friends, neighbors, routine consistency, new acquaintances that grow into friendships, girls' nights with wine and fruit, big dreams, awkward groups of unknown individuals bound by a common purpose and vision, an unpredictable but bright future, community grounded in a commitment to grace and authenticity with room for mistakes and error.

Love from a hopeful idealist.

The Craigslist Life

Question of the day:  Can one spend too many hours on Craigslist?

I'm not sure of the answer, but if it is "yes," I am terribly guilty.  We're hunting these days for our new home and furniture, and it feels so weird.  So adult.  Yesterday I purchased a used bedroom set.  It doesn't feel like me, but after a paint job, it is going to be spectacular.  For the past four years, I've lived in cookie-cutter dorms with pre-ordained furniture.  I haven't had to do one thing for myself outside of hanging a tapestry or two.  I'm stoked for the opportunity to make this next place a welcoming, creative, and personal space.  The mental vision is beautiful... we'll see what I think of the results!

As excited as I am, I also wonder if I'll even be here in one year.  I have no clue.  For the first time in my life, I have no plan.  I am focusing on TODAY.  And no words can describe the feeling exactly.  What I have is mine, but it belongs to others, too, and I am excited to share, learn, and figure it out from scratch.  Much inspires me- from the DIY decorating ideas found on Google to the Spanish prayer uttered in church on Sunday after the bluegrass set and the hole-in-the wall coffee shop I passed on my walk with the twins-and I have a new idea every day.  Good thing I'm only 22.  

New.

Confession:  I adore blogs.  With my new job, I have lots of time to surf the web, and I'm back on the scene.  And I love it.  My first blog attempt was one of those Xanga things back in high school, then I started several in college when I felt inspired/turned a monumental corner... there are so many of those in college.  The final attempt in January was a college cooking blog with healthy recipes on a tight budget (the result of watching "Julia and Julia"), but I graduated, and the blog wasn't relevant.  I'm now off to this new start, in so many ways, but this blog is yet another expression of the internal workings of my soul... and a fun little distraction/entrance into the bigger world.

At this time last year, my vision of the future looked entirely different.  What unfolds daily now is 110% not what I expected, but I like what's happening.  I am excited, anxious, confused, eager, and ready simultaneously.  When I consider my life, I am blown away by how undeserving I am of the grace and beauty I encounter everyday.  Life is for living, and I want to do just that.

Cheers to the next year of new:  home, job, relationships, perspective, attitude, budget, schedule, dream, surprise, and love.