New Beginnings
With every new beginning, also comes an ending. Think about it with me. :) Whenever you transition into something new, it always comes with letting go of what was past and moving towards a new adventure. And a lot of times, we say that change is “bitter sweet.” Whatever is new that we’re engaging may not seem like an adventure at first either. It’s honestly oftentimes pretty difficult to move forward. We have to let go of something we probably enjoyed, at least for a while. Why else would we have done those things for a short or long time in our lives? Endings always come with new beginnings. And today, I’m at that crossroads.
I’m processing nowadays the decision to leave the teaching profession. It’s been pretty difficult, because this job is so relational and meaningful for me. I’ve built amazing relationships with kids over the years, and though many, many of them I haven’t seen since the end of their years with me, I hope - as I do for them - that they remember me fondly. I think that’s why leaving teaching is so difficult; I’ve built relationships and memories with children that will hopefully stand the test of time. They genuinely may not remember most of what I teach them, but I certainly hope they’ll remember how I made them feel.
And even though I' will no longer be a first grade teacher as of this Friday, I can take all that this profession has taught me and run with all that good stuff into my next steps in life vocationally. Though one amazing gift is ending, another new and exciting one is on the horizon, and fast approaching.
This change has been bitter sweet. Bitter because teaching is ending, but very sweet because a career in event planning is beginning. I’ve really enjoyed planning events since June of this year, and it’s only gotten better with time. I just planned a 230+ person Christmas Formal in DC on December 4th, and it was an absolute blast. I feel like, nowadays, I’m really living into the meaning of my name, Anna, too. It means grace and favor. I feel both of those things profoundly these days. Grace, because all that I’m engaging with for events is overflowing with gifts; blessings are abounding. One of my good guy friends in the area told me yesterday that I’m doing amazing at life, and that I’m “the talk of the town.” How has that happened? Why me? It’s really humbling and encouraging to know that my gifting and talents are making a huge difference.
Favor also contributes to the meaning of my name. I honestly do feel this pretty strongly these days, too. I don’t think this event planning business and the Christmas Formal’s success would’ve been possible without God’s favor for me in this. How did I become the talk of the town? Why me? I guess it’s really because of the grace and favor that God has imparted to me, and the hard, enjoyable work that I’ve found in the midst of it all.
So are transitions challenging? Yes. Are they also exciting and inviting? Absolutely. And even as change comes, endings end and beginnings begin, we can look back on our past with gratitude, and forward to our future with anticipation and hope. It’s really exciting and encouraging to hope for a future where really the best is yet to come. I do believe that, even on a cosmic scale, and that everything smaller - yet just as significant - can be a part of that vision too.
Every new beginning, every change reminds us that the best really is yet to come. Why else would we work towards our goals in life and make changes for the long haul? We have to hope in something, and it’s absolutely worth it to embrace new beginnings as a result. We can certainly appreciate what was, but also hope for a great tomorrow. It may even be greater than today too. You never know! I guess that’s how adventures work.
