January 22nd, 2013; the day the girl who has been unable to work for as long as she can remember, finally found herself employed again.

The day where a brand new and exciting chapter of life, can finally begin.

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It would seem that today, just like yesterday, the universe decided to smile upon me for a second time. Only this time, with such a beautiful smile came a glistening ray of sunshine; a ray of sunshine that shone towards a path more even promising than I had first realised.

Although to some it would seem that this path was just a mere path towards average, everyday employment, for me, it was so much more than that. For me, it was a path that symbolised hopes, dreams and endless possibilities. A path that symbolised the very definition of new beginnings; new beginnings that couldn’t possibly have emerged at a better time.

Today I realised that regardless of your short term or long term situation, while ever you continue to send your hopes and your dreams out into the universe, eventually, they will find a way to come back to you.

Today I realised that if you continue to believe that there are countless opportunities out there just waiting to be taken, then eventually, one will come your way.

Today I realised that although things may not always fall into place, eventually, every once in a while, they do.

Today I was offered a job that three years ago, I would not at all have been interested in and yet today, it was the definition of everything that I have ever wanted.

Today I accepted a job as a Naturopathic Assistant; a job that not only makes me unbelievably excited about life, but at the very same time, makes me quietly content. A job that not only serves a purpose for right now, but has endless possibilities for my future. A job that not only do I already know so much about, but a job where I am certain I will continue to both learn and grow. A job that almost instantly, made this rollercoaster ride of a journey completely worthwhile. A job that is so perfectly suited to everything that I believe in and everything that I am wanting to work towards; a job that I could not possibly be more excited to begin.

Today is the day that I have been waiting for, for longer than I can even say. Today is the very day that symbolises a stage in my recovery, where I can finally step out and join the rest of the world in everyday life.

Today is the day that I happily turned the pages on a chapter of my life that has been somewhat of a struggle to say the least. A struggle that whilst having it’s obvious ups and downs, has without a doubt made me the very person that I am today. A person who is stronger than she realised, braver than she had first thought and more ready than ever to begin a brand new and exciting chapter in this big book called life.

So nervous and yet so surprisingly calm.

So anxious and yet so unbelievably excited.

So overwhelmed and yet so completely ready.

So unsure and yet so quietly confident.

Three years in the making and finally, there I was walking through the door to an ‘almost’ job; an ‘almost’ job that was everything I could have ever wanted, everything that the past three years of my life had molded me for.

There I was, walking through the door to an opportunity that life had spontaneously thrown my way and for the first time in a very long time, I realised that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

In that exact moment, I knew that regardless of the outcome of this experience, the universe had just given me something, something that I had so desperately needed for so, so long.

In the midst of today, I was finally given the confirmation that I needed. The confirmation that this journey I have been on for the past three years of my life was undoubtedly for a reason, a reason that was suddenly beginning to make perfect sense.

Things that I have learned during this weekends ‘Glen Innes adventures’:

1. No matter how hard we may try to alter the outcome, this family just doesn’t have the ability to leave for a trip on time.

2. Beginning a million hour car ride squashed in the back seat with a bird cage between you and your six-foot, long legged boyfriend, is really just asking for trouble.

3. Going by his attempts to sing a long, our little baby Wilbur is quite a big fan of Pink; especially her ‘just give me a reason’ duet.

4. The staff of the Aratula petrol station have created something amazing, something that I never even knew existed; GIANT HONEY JUMBLES.

5. A hot chook is impossible to find at 9:00pm.

6. The never ending dirt road that leads towards the homestead, is still just as never ending as ever.

7. Four adult children sleeping in a tiny little room filled with bunk beds is more than a little bit cosy.

8. Apparently even Glen Innes can join in the heat wave.

9. Big soft blankets paired with even bigger shady tree’s, make for the perfect summers afternoon nap.

10. It’s official; I am now the ‘Guess Who’ champion.

11. Star gazing in a small country town will always be a favourite past time.

12. It would seem that now more than ever, I am still struggling with the concept of decision making; especially when it comes to choosing a winning horse.

13. Apparently backing three horses in each race doesn’t actually give you a better chance of winning; especially if you continue to choose the worst three horses in the race.

14. Using a foam bun to style your hair is in fact quite a lot trickier than we are lead to believe.

15. With just a simple deep breath, even the shy girl can become both brave and spontaneous.

16. Standing out on a stage and being judged in front of countless people that you have never met before, is actually a little scary.

17. According to this years judging strategy, you both boobs and a fascinator are required to win a ‘Fashions on the field’ event.

18. The terrible fake tan however, that part is optional.

19. My boy looks pretty damn handsome all dressed up.

20. It is in fact possible to get reception out in the middle of nowhere, all you need is a trusty Iphone.

21. Taking a bowl of homemade soup into a Chinese restaurant is a lot more subtle than walking in with a whole roast chicken.

22. Family games will always, always make me smile.

23. While ever my brother is involved, they will also more than likely lead to uncontrollable fits of laughter.

24. Placing a give way sign behind a tree will very nearly lead to a hospital visit; especially when there is a New South Wales driver involved, who is going almost double the speed limit.

25. Daylight savings is a truly wonderful idea.

26. Where the game ‘Quiddler’ is concerned, apparently if your name is Christopher Childs and you throw big confusing words around, you can just about create your very own dictionary.

27. Even big, hungry horses like the taste of thai sweet chilli chips.

28. Big, giant thunder storms that are accompanied by bright, erratic lightening strikes, always seem to look more beautiful when they are surrounded by lovely green grass, the highest of mountains and endless trees.

29. It’s not where you are that matters most of all, it’s the people that you’re with.

30. I am very pleased to say that when it comes to a small country town, nothing much ever really changes.

Although at times change can indeed be a good thing, there are also times when no change can be even better.

Today I made a decision, a decision to work towards something that I have wanted for a very, very long time. Something that more than likely, I still won’t be ready for, but something that I will do everything in my power to try and achieve regardless of the odds.

Today I decided that finally, after two years of taking little tiny baby steps and constantly waiting for the fall back, that I am going to start trusting in the strength of my own body again and start pushing just that little bit further.

Today I decided that regardless of the expectations of others and regardless of the likelihood of this situation ending the way I imagine it will, this dream of mine is something that I really, truly want. This dream of mine is something that would make me happier than you could even begin to imagine and despite everything, today I decided that it was finally time to take that leap of faith and go for it.

Today I decided that regardless of the outcome, this was something worth taking a chance on. Regardless of whether or not all of this ends in celebration or in heartache, I am going to put everything that I have into this. Regardless of whether this becomes another line on the long list of disappointments or marks the beginning of my dreams check list, at least I will have worked towards something. At least this time, even at worst, I won’t fail through lack of trying and at best, I will be standing tall and proud knowing that I was the one who made this happen.

Now for those of you who are worried about the consequences, please trust that I know what I’m doing. Trust that I will continue to take things one step at a time, one day at a time and one obstacle at a time. Trust that I am going to push as hard as I need too and as hard as I can, but not quite hard enough to turn my forward movements into backward spirals. Trust that I am going to listen to my body and give myself the best chance that I possibly can to make this dream become a reality.

Trust that this newfound inspiration is just the beginning. The beginning of a new and wonderful adventure, even more amazing than I ever could have dreamed of and today; today is where it all begins.

“Time; the indefinate continued progress of existence and events in the past present and future.”

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It moves slowly when we wish it would move fast and fast when we wish it would move slow. Some days we are given just a little too much and yet others, we never seem to have enough. It leaves some of us grateful, while it leaves others drowning in regret. It brings some of us closer together, while it leads others to slowly drift apart. It has the ability to heal old wounds, while it carries the potential to create new ones. It has a way of changing our opinions and a way of altering our perspective and sometimes, if we’re really lucky, it has a way of changing us as people; a way of defining us.

Sometimes though, regardless of how much time we may have been blessed with and regardless of the countless irreplaceable memories we may have made during the space of that time, we still find ourselves grasping at the idea that there just isn’t quite enough. Not quite enough days, not quite enough moments and not quite enough memories. Still, after all of these years, there just doesn’t seem to be enough minutes in each hour, hours in each day and days in each year. Maybe when it comes down to it though, there really is enough time. Maybe there always has been.

Maybe instead of constantly wishing for just that little bit more, we need to trust that we have been given all the time that we could possibly need; trust and believe that we have all been given just long enough to live out everything it is that we have always dreamed of and more.

Maybe all we need to do is take the time we have been given, grab it by both hands and run with it. Maybe all we need to do is live every single day with the intention of doing something great with our lives, something wonderful.

Maybe if we were to live every single day knowing that we were using whatever time we had been given, exactly how we imagined we would, then somehow we would begin to believe that we have been given more than enough.

Maybe it’s never been about the length of time that we’ve been given and maybe we were never meant to be constantly hoping, praying and wishing for more. Maybe all of this is bigger than that, bigger than us. Maybe it’s about appreciating the time that we do have. Appreciating the here and the now, regardless of how long it lasts for.

After three hundred and sixty-five days of baby steps, it appears that I’m finally starting to find my feet again. After three hundred and sixty-five days of taking things slow and steady, I’m finally feeling strong enough and brave enough to try something new.

 So, this year I’ve decided to turn things up a little bit.

This year I’m going to get my stride back.

New Year’s Resolutions;

1. Appreciate life; every single day.

2. Do more of what makes me happy.

3. Continue to be inspired, continue to see the beauty in life and continue to write.

4. Finish writing, finish editing and finally publish my very first book.

5. Regardless of the outcome, send that very first book out into the world. Regardless of the outcome, chase my writing dreams.

6. Learn how to save.

7. Travel again; preferably after I’ve learnt how to save.

8. Find my dream boutique and hand them a copy of my resume.

9. Start my nutrition course.

10. Re-learn how to throw a baseball.

11. Be brave enough to run again, even if it’s only a few small steps at a time.

12. Step back out onto that diamond.

13. Play baseball with my two boys; not just a muck around game this time though, a real one.

14. Attempt to write a song.

15. Open the box of my brand new sewing machine and start learning how to sew.

16. Start going to bed at a reasonable hour; more than once a month.

17. Try my very best to not be so busy all of the time, doing goodness knows what.

18. Be spontaneous.

19. Master the art of selflessness.

20. Practice deep breathing.

21. Live in the moment.

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So there you have it; twenty-one New Year’s Resolutions for the twenty-one year old girl, who is finally stepping back out into the world. Twenty-one things that are guaranteed to put a smile on my face, every single day for the next three hundred and sixty-five days.

Today is January 1st; Day one of the New Year and I already have that magical feeling. A magical feeling that maybe if I’m lucky enough, might just last all year long.

2013; the year that everything finally starts falling into place.