Thoughts on Going Back

I’ve been living on my own for more than a month now. This weekend, I’ll be heading back to Indiana to participate in my college graduation ceremony and my parents’ house.

And I’ve got mixed feelings about it.

So pardon my rambling, but there’s been a lot on my mind in regards to going back home.

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Thought 1: Everything has changed for me, but not for them.

Now I know this isn’t true, but consider it this way. I graduated last December and in the last two months I’ve gotten a job, moved to a different state, and started living on my own. It’s been a huge adjustment and I’ve learned so much (I promise I’ll do a post on that soon). Meanwhile, I’ve been seeing all sorts of posts from my peers about finals, end of classes, and the last experiences of college. They’re stressing out about applying for jobs and figuring out the next step.

On one hand, I can totally relate to that.

But on the other hand, I’m on the other side of that situation now. So while I know how it feels, I feel kind of removed from it all.

Which puts a weird distance between me and my former classmates.

Of course, I’m not actually there, so I don’t know if I’m just imagining all this.

Thought 2: Moving makes your life weird.

Like I said, I’ve been here over a month now. And while in some respects, I feel like I’ve done pretty well settling in, I still feel like an outsider.

And that’s to be expected.

It takes time to get adjusted to a new place. And being an introvert, it takes me a long time to get used to new people.

I’m kind of surrounded by new people right now.

Thought 3: I don’t like being present-focused.

This is a new discovery. I’ve always considered myself a pretty laid back, live in the moment type of gal. Sure, I think about the future and the past, but I’ve always found myself more focused on the now.

But that mindset seems to be working against me recently.

Present-focused is scary. The present is full of new experiences, loneliness, and trying to figure out so many things.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my past, wistfully remembering college and past jobs and internships. I’m worried about the future. Will I still be here after my year internship is up or will I be moving again?

It’s a very strange place for me to be.

Any and all advice is more than welcome.

No video this week, as I’ll be graduating on Saturday. Yay!

Until next time, word nerds!

The Book Challenge

So this has been sitting on my computer for almost two months, but with all the craziness of moving and starting my job, I haven’t had a chance to edit and post it. But now I get to share this awesome (and long, sorry) video of me and two very special guests doing the book challenge!

Until next time, word nerds!

Character Types: The Beautiful Damsel

As much as it pains me to admit it, a good fairy tale isn’t complete without a damsel in distress.

Damsels serve as the motivation for the hero. Whether it’s a charming prince fighting a dragon to save her or a poor lad trying to prove his worth, there’s always a girl involved with the hero’s quest.

But those girls can easily fade into the background.

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Part of a New World

Dear Fairy Godmother,

I recently moved a long way from home. I don’t know anyone in this new place and I’m worried about settling in and being all own my own. Do you have any tips for making friends and not feeling quite so out of place?

Sincerely,

A Fish Out of Water

Photo Credit

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Fairy Tale Facts: Thumbelina

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. On the recommendation of my friend Julie, I’ll be talking about Thumbelina today.

Thumbelina, or Tommelise as it was titled in the original Danish, was written by Hans Christian Andersen as a part of his first collection of fairy tales in 1835 and not well received by critics at the time. It was translated into English in 1846 by Mary Howitt and started gaining popularity.

I love this fairy tale, even if I sometimes forget about it. I highly recommend you read it if you have the time. It’s not long. In fact, one might say it’s tiny (that’s a joke that will make sense soon, I promise).

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Author Crush: Jackson Pearce

So I forgot how busy I was going to be this weekend and didn’t work ahead. Hence, no video this week. And I’ll be gone next week, so no video then either. Sorry!

But I still wanted to give you a reading recommendation, so you get this quick post.

My March author crush is Jackson Pearce. She writes fantasy stories, spy books, and fairy tale retellings. You can find out more about her on her website.

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