I had originally planned to write the night before I left, but life had other ideas. Instead of writing, I spent the evening frantically finishing my packing. With everything happening at once, there was barely a moment to pause and reflect on the adventure that lay ahead. Now, as I sit in the bustling Montreal airport during my layover, I’m finally finding the time to catch my breath and put my thoughts into words.
In the days leading up to the move, I found myself lying in bed, simply sitting in silence. Surprisingly, I wasn’t overwhelmed—quite the opposite. I wanted to be fully present with my thoughts, to soak in the quiet before my life shifted completely. It felt like the calm before the storm, but I welcomed it.
Now, I still have three more countries and three more airports to pass through before I reach my final destination. The title I had in mind— “Ready, Set, Spain!”—suddenly feels off. Honestly, you lost me at “ready.” The truth is, I feel like I’m still playing catch-up, crossing things off my never-ending to-do list along the way.
But isn’t that part of the journey? Things rarely go as planned, and I’m learning to roll with it. I’m sure once I finally touch down in Spain, the pace will slow, and I’ll be able to settle into a new rhythm. For now, it’s all about staying flexible, embracing the unexpected, and trusting that everything will fall into place—eventually. Maybe the adventure doesn’t begin when we feel prepared, but when we simply decide to take the leap.
I think another reason I couldn’t focus before leaving was that I was feeling more emotional than I expected. This isn’t just a casual trip—it’s the beginning of an entirely new chapter. I’ve realized that sometimes you need to sit with your emotions and let yourself feel everything. Avoiding those intense feelings only postpones the inevitable. I’m learning that facing them head-on, while uncomfortable, is healthier in the long run.
One thing that has made this transition a bit easier is reframing how I think about it. Instead of seeing it as a grand, final goodbye, I’m viewing it as a “see you later”—like I’m just going on an extended vacation and will catch up with everyone when I get back. It’s a temporary mindset, but it helps ease the heaviness of leaving. Even though I know home isn’t as accessible as it once was, it doesn’t feel as final this way.
Now, the challenge is finding a new home away from home. It’s not about replacing where I’m from but about creating a new space that holds the same comfort and warmth. I want to bring pieces of that familiarity with me and see how they merge with this new experience. It’s scary, yes, but it’s also exciting. Who knows? This next chapter might feel like home in ways I never imagined.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
