Journal Day: Crossroads.

Danielle over at Sometimes Sweet decided to share journal prompts. And, with my sudden blogging writer's block, I jumped at the opportunity to respond to a prompt. This is my response to this week's prompt about standing at a crossroads in your life.

When I was eighteen years old, I was in the relationship that I planned to be in for the rest of my life. I had everything figured out. Graduate college in three years, get married, and have babies. Not surprisingly, things did not work out that way. The relationship ended before I turned twenty and I ended up having to move back home.

The hardest part about that break-up was that I was left with no friends because he was my only friend (should have been a warning sign). I took this sudden downfall to start to get involved in something I had always been passionate about. I ventured out, got an internship, and starting making friends. Then, graduating college a year early didn't seem like the best idea. 

That break-up was a huge moment because it changed my life trajectory. It made me become my own person. I was no longer the other half to a relationship. I became myself. And I learned a lot. A lot about myself, about who I wanted to become, about life, about people. The list could go on and on. Ending that relationship, while it was hard at first, was one of the best decisions of my life. 

I look back and think about the person I could have become and it frightens me. Primarily because I love who I am now. I'm much more independent. I'm more willing to take risks while still being thoughtful about potential consequences. I'm more willing to put myself out there to make friends. I grew up. 

None of that would have been possible if I stayed where I was. 

I didn't realize what a huge decision it was at the time. I knew the immediate consequences, but I didn't realize that it would eventually lead me to this life I have now with my amazing friends, my awesome boyfriend, and my own empowerment.