Have you ever had a day that on paper, was completely ordinary, yet while in the midst of it, it felt amazingly perfect? I hadn’t until just recently. I was walking along the sidewalk, headed towards my destination yet not rushing because (surprisingly) I wasn’t late. I was looking at the gorgeous brick walk-ups, reveling in the amazing early fall weather, and felt so content that I was spending my day exactly as I wanted. No, I wasn’t heading shopping or something fun. I was heading to class, and later to work, and then would probably do some reading, all things that some would classify as “not fun.” Yet to me, it was just right. I got a little chocked up that day, standing on the corner of 19th Street and the latest construction zone here in downtown Philadelphia.

A few months ago I posted about an idea that my therapist tasked me with: becoming well defined. Being the Type A person that I am, I wanted to know what that meant, how to get there, and what the end point would look like. Yet being the therapist that SHE is, she gave me very little information and told me that I would simply know once I got there. Cue my eye roll. I kept this at the forefront of my mind for about a month, but eventually it faded away and my therapy sessions didn’t touch on this topic anymore.

Yet on this ordinarily perfect day last week, I had a revelation. Perhaps, just perhaps, I had arrived. Maybe I was at the spot that she had told me I was headed. I was having a day like all the others, yet something had changed in my mind and I’ve already said it here- I was content. I was thrilled to be simply living my life in the way I saw best. I stopped under the yucky overpass of JFK Boulevard and thought:

“Holy SHIT! I’m well-defined!”

Now that I think about it, I can’t say I’m too surprised to have hit this milestone. I’ve spent the last year of my life, and even more so the last 7 months since moving out on my own, thinking and acting solely for myself. I’ve questioned my decisions, I’ve challenged expectations, I’ve wondered whether I want to do something or if I should. I’ve strived to listen so very closely to myself and my gut to know whether something is right or not. It hasn’t led me astray yet, and I don’t think it will ever.

One year ago today, I posted by very first entry on WTF. I began this blog for the purpose of discovering what was next in my career. At some point, it became my sanctuary for all the other difficult and challenging thoughts in my personal life. While for some time, it all seemed disconnected to me, I later learned that I needed all of these pieces to fit together. I learned about the climate of security, I learned about meaningful and deep connections, and I learned above all else that we have all the answers inside of us.

I could never have anticipated the amount of change that I would experience in one year. It has felt like a lifetime. Yet despite the hurdles, mistakes and pain I would not change any bit of this last year. It has lead me to be a better version of myself. It has lead me to a place with unlimited possibility. And it has lead me to a place where the most ordinary days can be astonishingly perfect.

Thank you for reading and being a part of my journey.

WTF is next?