Hi Everyone!
Happy Friday and happy long weekend! It's been officially one week since I've gotten back from Israel and I've had a few days to decompress and truly reflect on all the things that have been going on.
2016 has been a whirlwind year – and it's only July. From completing my second half marathon to moving out of my apartment of five years and in with a boyfriend, well there's been a few changes. All for the better.
I truly believe in the power of getting out of your comfort zone. Once you do, you're usually more open to experiencing things completely and fully. While challenging and difficult in the moment, I often look back and feel super fulfilled.
Putting yourself out there is pretty subjective. Whether it's taking the leap and moving in with a significant other or going overseas by yourself, it's all up to you.
When I headed to Israel, I was (admittedly) pretty nervous. As most of us know, Israel has had quite a few stints in the news and truthfully, I didn't know what to expect. First off, this made me nervous. Secondly, I knew no one. Well, I knew that there would be people from the states going on my trip, but I didn't have a friend or close confidant with me.
So, I headed to the airport a little freaked out and getting waaaay out of my comfort zone. Luckily, so many other people were in the same boat as myself. For the next ten days, I was "forced" *but not really* to spend every single moment with this group of 47 twenty somethings. From challenging situations like climbing Masada and sharing our feelings about what we want out of the future to happy moments like sitting around a bonfire singing songs – we experienced everything, fully together. No judgement. No drama. Nothin'.
Pretty special, right? It reminded me of how judgemental we can be (myself included) and it was a great reminder to let your walls down and truly put yourself out there. After the ten days were over, we looked around and didn't feel like strangers, but a like some weird, quirky family.
After I got home, I realized how rare of an experience going to Israel was and that even in the pursuit of constant happiness, I should just look around and feel pretty damn happy.
Cheers!