Weekly Photo Challenge: Beginning

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

I’ve always loved this quote. Not only because of it’s truth, but also because it’s from a song that was popular during my teenage years: “Closing Time,” by Semisonic (1998). I recently blogged (well, actually it was yesterday) about the New Year and resolutions and how in the beginning of January many of us naturally reflect on how the past year will influence the one that has just arrived. “New Year, New Beginning,” is often a thought that runs through our heads. It’s actually a wonderful opportunity for many of us to start fresh, get motivated, and reinvigorate our lives. This challenge was an excellent choice to kick-off 2014.

My “beginning” photo, however, was taken a few months ago. It goes without saying that new beginnings can occur on any day in any month of the year. I was excited when I saw this challenge though because another point I spoke of yesterday was that one of my strategies to stay motivated in 2014 was to go back and read my blog posts from the beginning. “It’s always a good idea to remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing.” So in keeping with this week’s theme, in addition to my own advice, I am sharing the first photograph that I ever posted on my blog. It was taken at Starbucks on the night I started writing these Notes by Natalie (September 16, 2013). I also included an excerpt of my first blog post beneath the photo.

THE FINAL TWELVE: DAY 12

If there was anytime in my life for me to start blogging, it’s now. It’s Monday, 8:30 p.m. I’m at my local Starbucks enjoying a latte and editing my website. Creating websites, and now blogs, has almost become a second job for me – a job where I’ve employed myself and go to work happy. What’s my first job? I am also a teacher; I work with NYC students who are learning English. This “first” job has been incredibly good to me, both financially and in that heart-warming, fuzzy-feeling way. Watching children grow, laugh, and develop language is incredibly rewarding. I’ve been lucky. And yet, I have named this post “The Final Twelve.” As I sit in this Starbucks meticulously revising my website, I am reminded that in just 12 short days, I will be leaving my job as a teacher and pursuing what has always been a lifelong dream of mine – a career in entertainment. It may sound drastic, and that’s probably why it’s taken me a few years to take this leap: ”How can I just leave my job? What will my family say? What about this? And that?” Normal thoughts. But the desire and drive has always been there, deep within. The truth is, it’s all been about timing and I know that several events in my life have played a huge role in helping me make this decision, this CHOICE, at this time. I don’t know exactly what awaits me when these 12 days are through, but I couldn’t be more excited to find out. Stayed tuned for updates on “The Final Twelve” and the adventures to come when I reset the clock.

Thank you for stopping by! If you’d like to read more of “The Final Twelve” posts, please click here.

Have a wonderful weekend. Natalie xo