Look for the Silver Lining

You know those cliches in life that tell you to roll with the punches and that life isn't perfect or fair and its actually really hard? For the most part I liked to think that I agreed with them, or at the very least excepted them, and then today happened.

I can honestly say without a doubt that today has been one of the most upsetting days in a series of unfortunate situations these last few days. For the last few months my focus had been on graduating early and with grades I think are acceptable. However, graduating was the easy part, its everything that has come after that's caused sleepless nights and endless headaches.

I had everything planned out, I was moving to London December 29th and would start 2015 with a completely new chapter of my life but life had other plans. After calling and pleading with anyone who would listen to my story I found out today that I won't be getting my visa in time and have to postpone my trip and new chapter by almost 2 weeks.

I'll still be able to attend my Masters program but I'll be starting a week behind everyone else and thrown back without warning to London life with no time to get re-accumulate or to help Kendall adjust. Basically the exact opposite of what I intended and planned months in advance.

I'm sure like many of you, you like to plan these big moments in life and want the universe to do you a solid and follow the plan but that didn't happen today. I struggled to get through most of the day because I kept thinking I had done something to deserve this, that it was bad karma and energy coming for payback, but as I was decorating the Christmas tree tonight with my mom I realized that wasn't it at all and I shouldn't put that kind of pressure on myself. I didn't deserve this stress just like most people out there don't deserve their struggles, especially at the holidays, but it happens.

I can't change how the universe acts or what the world throws at me but I can change how I react. I can roll with the punches and see the silver linings in these obstacles and view this as an opportunity to spend extra time with my family and enjoy the holidays instead of having to pack.

Life's only as difficult as we make it.

Graduation Pictures

It’s officially crunch time. Only two weeks left until graduation and 4 weeks until its time to pack everything up and move to London for postgrad. I’ve somehow managed to remain calm up to this point at least. On Saturday I went with my sister, at Jenn Stevenson Photography, to Valley Forge Historical Park to take some surprise graduation portraits for my family. 

Despite it being absolutely freezing and wearing a dress with no stockings (I don’t want to talk about it), the results were fabulous. We were both so cold that I was convinced I would look red, my makeup would be ruined, or my smile would look forced, something. However, in the end it all was fabulous. 

My favorite part about the whole experience was getting to spend a crazy afternoon with my sister laughing through the cold. 

But my sister put my fears to rest when she began sending me the proofs as they came through and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. 

Luckily for me, I don’t have long to wait until I can give them to gifts and share them with everyone because it’s killing me not to put them everywhere. The one I can’t wait to share the most? A beautiful moment between me and Kendall because yes, I have an unnatural relationship with my dog. 

Other than the beautiful pictures created by Jenn Stevenson Photography (follow them on instagram) what did this session give me? A chance to bond with my sister and think about graduation. I already know that I’m moving to London within a month but I don’t know much past that but I know I'll make it great. 

Here's looking at the next adventure that awaits.