Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

As I sit to write this on Martin Luther King Day, his wisdom seems to be apropos of my feelings the last few months. I feel as if I've taken a flying leap with no notion of how I'll land...and for once in my life that's alright. I have no plans, no family to rely on (of course, they're always there just a little less convenient when they're fourteen hours away), no small town full of people who watched me grow up, no one to take care of me but myself, and it feels wonderful. I feel as if I'm free. Now is my moment. Here is my opportunity to reinvent myself, to learn to love me for me, to grow into my own skin...and I plan on taking full advantage.

Step 1.  Make a decision and stick by it...no matter how unpopular it may be. When I actually decided to move to Mississippi I knew that I would encounter some resistance from my family, after all I had no job prospects or plans past packing up my car and hitting the road. However, I never anticipated the many arguments I would have to field in the upcoming months! It is wonderful to know that so many people care enough to worry but it is hard to stick by a decision when it seems as if everyone around you is convinced that you've lost your mind. I think it took the disagreements and arguments with those around me for me to finally realize that I was finally ready to take the first steps on my own. I've never been good at standing up for myself. I'm the consummate people-pleaser and have spent most of my life basing both my decisions and my actions upon what I thought would make others happy or proud of me. For the first time, I feel as if I've grown enough to stand on my own two feet and accept that not everyone will agree with me but if they truly love me they will stand behind me no matter what.

Although my decision was met with lots of yelling and even tears, I knew that in the end each and every one of them would stand behind me no matter what the outcome and that gave me the strength to take that step and have faith that what awaits me at the top of the staircase is worth the climb.