Truckin’

Hello beautiful friends!  Happy Monday!  🙂

Pretty proud of myself for keeping up to date on this.  I promised to try and update everyone weekly, and while it is only the second week, so far so good!  (I guess you can hold the applause 😉 )

This last week has been quite a rollercoaster ride.  I have some wonderful news and some pretty sad news.  I always like to start on positive notes, so good news first!

I HAVE A NEW JOB!  🙂  As some of you might know, the last few weeks have been a little stressful for me in terms of finding a new job.  In Thailand, we are rounding up the end of the school year, and this week is my last week at my school.  While I have enjoyed the school I taught at, and I have loved getting to know the students and teachers, I was ready for a bit of a change.  So I went out job hunting, going through several different interviews, and I even had some different options in terms of new teaching positions.  If you know me though, you know that making decisions aren’t exactly my specialty, so trying to figure out exactly what I wanted these last few weeks was a bit of a challenge.  However, despite the stress that comes along with such changes, came a great opportunity.  Starting in April, I will be teaching at a very unique school in Bangkok.  I accepted a teaching position at a fifth grade level at a Thai-Japanese school!  All good things in all good time baby!  After interviewing at this school, I instantly knew this was it!  The school is beautiful and the staff I was introduced to was great.  I immediately felt comfortable, and I feel as though that is so important in a job setting.  The school will even be offering me Japanese courses, so I will be learning how to speak Japanese.  Check that off the bucket list!  I am beyond excited to begin yet another chapter in my life, and a long one it will be, as I signed a two year contract.  Two more years in this beautiful country?  Don’t mind if I do.  🙂  (For those of my friends who keep saying they want to come visit, you now have plenty of time to get saving! 😉 )

So while I received some amazing news this week, I was also given the reminder that life can’t always be sunshine and rainbows.  My mother reached out to me this past weekend to inform me my childhood dog, Buddy, had passed away peacefully in her arms while he was sleeping.  While I am heartbroken to have lost my first and only pet, I am beyond grateful for the 17 long years that my dog was able to be with us, providing us with great memories that I will never forget.  I still remember when I filled out what my wish was on school papers, putting down I wish I had a dog for a pet.  Of course my dad would help my wishes come true, and when I was in first grade, my dad showed up with Buddy on Christmas Eve, surprising my brother, my mom, and me.  My dog was a little spit fire, but so sweet at the same time.  It still makes me laugh to think of my little 5 pound dog barking at the Saint Bernards next door without a care in the world.  Rest in doggy paradise my little pup.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only bad news I received.  This past weekend I also lost a friend from Panic tour.  I realized this week that the hardest part about being on the other side of the world is that I cannot pick up the phone to call those I need, to give hugs and squeeze the ones I love.  I wish teleporting was possible, just so I can find my OG video camera that I took the road with me last summer.  I recorded our shenanigans from Panic tour, and I know on that video camera is some footage of Nick.  I would love to be able to be home to just get my hands on it, to get some laughs and see his character shining bright as ever.  I will raise another glass to you though, my friend, and for you, forever and ever, may your glass it be filled!

“What hurts you, blesses you.  Darkness is your candle.”  – Rumi

It is weeks like this that I am reminded how short our lives are.  In the blink of an eye, all things can change.  If you are reading this, please do me a favor, and give a call or shoot a text to your friends and family, those you are close to and those you have lost touch with.  Just tell them that you love them and how grateful you are for their presence in your life.  If you are lucky enough to physically see them, give them big hugs. Squeeze squeeze squeeze them tightly!  Tomorrow is never promised, so live each moment to the very fullest because now is all you can be sure of.  Love with all you have because those who are still by your side today are there for a reason.

Although I cannot be home to be with the ones I love on that side of the world, I am beyond lucky to have such a great group of people in Thailand by my side.  This weekend was another one for the books!  I was blessed to share great food, just a few drinks (ha), and even more memories with such an amazing group.  To each of you who came from out of town, and for those who were in Bangkok, but came along for the ride, thank you!  You each put such a smile on my face, and make my life so much brighter for knowing you!  I feel so lucky to have met so many amazing people out here.  Life never ceases to amaze me.

While this week had its ups and downs, overall, I am looking on the bright side of things.  Life is all about perspective, and we are in charge of our own thoughts.  My happiness lies in my own hands, so I know to make the best of each situation life throws at me.  Good things are sure to be on their way, and I am excited and accepting of all the change that is to come!

Have a wonderful week, my friends!