Self-Discipline and the Mind.

Months ago, I had been warned by friends, family, acquaintences, even as much as strangers tell me that I am about to embark on an intense emotional roller coaster ride of my life. Now I am not typing up this blog to say I agree or disagree with that statement. If anything, I'd like to throw in my two cents for the night...

Intense? Surely. Unexpected? Yeah. Challenging and awe-inspiring? So much so. 

4-5 months ago, it seemed far enough that it didn't put things into perspective quite yet. Even at the 3 month mark, I felt secure and comfortable. As of this moment, I'm honestly experiencing every possible emotion. Luckily, the negative emotions (i.e. anxiety, sadness, sudden pangs of sorrow), come to me in tolerable fleeting moments...

Those fleeting moments of nervousness/anxiety do not fleet without control. It's quite easy to get lost in the 'what if' moments...'Am I remembering to bring the essentials for my trip?', 'What if a volunteer opportunity gets cancelled and I get stranded?', etc. 

Anytime I feel discouraged or sad that I am leaving behind everything I  know...

I tell myself that it's only temporary and something I must let myself feel for a moment. 

If not for a moment, acknowledge it in some way, shape, or form.

But when that moment is over, we must pick ourselves back up and continue that journey.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:

"It is not length of life, but depth of life."