If you’re reading this, you’ve either had the greatest day or a terrible one. Both of these will happen. Now, ask yourself “what’s next?” 

Remember to be humble. Remember to keep your hopes high and your expectations low. Your bleeding heart will thank you. Remember that things can always get worse and that you can always be better. Be kind. To yourself and to others. 

Why are you here? Why is this so important to you? You did not choose the easy road. Why not? 

Your tears will come. They always do. You will feel insane amounts of joy and pride and amazement. You will feel unfathomable amounts of sadness and fear and loss. You signed up for this. For all of these things. 

You’re here because you care. You care so deeply for other people. You’re here because you want to make a difference. “Change the world or die trying.” Right?! 

Keep going. No matter how great or how terrible this day is, the next one will be better. The next one will bring new discoveries and surprises. The next one will be worth everything that you are feeling right now. 

In a week, you will look back on this day with disbelief because another day will replace whatever this day brought you. You will learn more tomorrow. You will be better tomorrow. 

It’s ok to feel sad. It’s ok to feel euphoric. It’s ok to feel proud or lost or anything else. Just… don’t get lost in the feelings of today. Use them to move forward. Channel these feelings into action no matter what kind of action you need. You are stronger than you think. Every hurdle makes you stronger and allows you to grow and change in ways you had never imagined. This journey is not just something you want to do, it’s something you need to do. 

*** I was worried that if I wrote myself a letter that I might lose it before I got the chance to read it. As silly as all of this may seem to some, I know this journey will be an emotional rollercoaster for me. I am trying to prepare myself in any and every way that I can think of. Writing myself a letter was one of the coping mechanisms that was recommended to me in the beginning. I’m 32 days out. This is all becoming incredibly real. The anticipation is growing and I am so looking forward to what lies ahead.

The excitement, however, doesn’t take away the sadness I feel when I think about leaving. I’m going to miss my nieces so much. That’s one of the hardest parts. They will be so big when I come back. My family is my everything. Leaving is so difficult.