approximately 6 months ago....

i was on a plane traveling across the world to live in a place i'd barely even read anything about. a place where i wouldn't know the language, the culture, the people. i haven't made a better decision in my life. living in japan has brought me closer to the ones i love in america, and close to so many new people i'd never have met otherwise. sure, it's been hard--learning something new, somewhere new for the first time--in a country where i can't read or speak no less. but i've grown SO much. i've learned that i am capable of much more than i ever thought possible. it's ok to get out of my comfort zone and even ok to fail miserably. it's ok to miss people and things. it's ok to get lost and have a meltdown. that's how you grow. experience is the best teacher.
when i found out i got this job, i had to continually remind myself that i was the one who had to live my life--i couldn't waste mine watching other people live theirs. so i've stopped saying "i'm sorry i can't be there" or "i'm sorry i missed _______" because the truth is, i'm not sorry. sure i'm sad i couldn't be there for a certain something or other, but to me being sorry would mean that i regretted making the decision i did when i chose to leave everything i knew for an adventure that is just beginning. and thus far, i regret nothing. i can only hope the next 6 months of my adventure are as great as the last 6 have been. and that the 6 after that are better than the previous 12. with a new school year starting and getting my own class of japanese-speaking 4-year-olds, the next 6 months look promising.
God has been showing me some great stuff here and He's been opening my eyes, ears, and heart in a way i've never known. it's refreshing to my soul to be surrounded daily by encouraging people who share my passions. i keep praying God will continue to show me joy in the little things, and see where these itchy feet will go next....