Passion to Purpose: My Journey : 18 months down 9 more to go! =)

SORRY MISSED THE JUNE BLOG! but it won’t happen again.

Every day as I am speaking to one of my family members or friends, they ask, "When are you coming home?" "Why is this time moving so slowly" or after I announce we have reached 2/3rds of service, "WHAT ONLY 2/3rds, I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALMOST DONE.” Each time I respond by saying, "Whatttt, noo I feel like these 18 months have flown by, I kind of wish it would slow down. I have so much to do and soo little time. " I never understood what they meant until I started flipping through an old album from right before I left. Here is what I saw:

My babies Kamiyah, Jayda, Kennipooh, Trin, Adri, Jesse,DJ , DJ and Madison before I left!

This is them now!!! AHHH!!! *tear tear* they are growing so quickly!!

All of my little loves, my babies have grown so much! It really brought my 18 months here in Thailand into perspective. I began to reflect, "WOW, a lot of time has passed, I have been a number of places, done so many new things and now only 9 months left!" Realizing this, two things instantly go through my mind; "How will I spend these last 9 months in Thailand?" and "What does life after Peace Corps look like for me?"

Two simple questions with such difficult answers. As far as the next 9 months, I have a few plans laid out in both my professional life and my personal life so this does not worry me as much. I have a few exciting endeavors happening at work and I am signed up to run my first 10 k in September. I am certain these next 9 months will be filled with lots of new experiences, trips, and life lessons. The idea of life after Peace Corps is kind of scary. And I just DO NOT know what it looks like. My mind is everywhere! I have several passions, which makes this decision even harder. * DISCLAIMER: WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ MAY BE NEWS TO YOU BUT DEATH THREATS ARE NOT ALLOWED HAHA* For those of you who don't know, the commitment to the Peace Corps is 2 years however you can extend your commitment for an additional year if you can find an organization that is currently doing work in youth development. Although I have had some bad days here in Thailand, the majority were pretty good. I was thinking about extending my commitment for an additional year. Recently, I have met with potential organizations in which I could see a future working with. With that said, I have yet to find anywhere that would make me stay an additional year but the search continues. My other options are to really up in the air. Ph.D? Psy.D? LCSW?(<definitely) Working in Thailand? Another country? The US?, sigh I just don't know.

I began to search, stress and over think everything because 9 months sounds so far yet so close. I realized my routine had changed. I was making my normal rounds when I noticed I had not made my bed in one week, which is just not me. ( I make my bed daily first thing, even in hotels. Weird, I know. haha) One day, I was talking to my sistiends (sister/friend). She didn't know any of this was happening but was saying just what I needed to hear. It was refreshing. She reminded me that 9 months is enough time to prepare for what ever might be next but if I keep on this endless, over thinking, stressful path I would do nothing but add confusion to my life. I gave myself a day to pray, unwind, relax, and clear my mind. The next morning, I felt much better and it didn't take as much for me to focus. I still have no clue what’s going to happen March 2015 but I feel like I'm going into this search a little less all over the place and more focused which will hopefully lead to good decision making and a happy "whatever's next".

NOOWW FOR SOME PICTURES OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN UPTO:

Phi Ta Khon: A Buddhist merit making holiday. They worship the spirits and protectors of the town as well as pray for plentiful rain for a healthy harvest.