Is it too early to be thinking about next January?

I find myself perpetually thinking about "What's next."

This has been a theme throughout my life, you can trace back through the journal entries..I'm very rarely completely complacent in the moment--my sights are always on the ever looming horizon..the next challenge, the next adventure.

On Friday I went out to dinner with my family to this amazing mexican restaurant called X-tapa Joe's..over a delicious enchilada casserole, we talked about Department of Defense schools abroad--a great possible adventure and logical application for my completed Master's degree next December.  I'm currently being drawn to Costa Rica and Italy.  Of course I would love to go back to Spain, but I feel like I need a new challenge..I can't help but think this would be the time to go and teach abroad because I have no real responsibilities (mortgage, children, cough cough).

I've been thinking lately that some things are laid out so neatly that it must be fate.  A series of coincidences that lead to one big culmination of what's meant to be.

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

Top Coincidences

1. I came back from Spain and decided to teach instead of doing law or journalism.
2. I decided not to got to USC in favor of U of A which turned out to be me randomly going to ASU 
3. I lost my job teaching Spanish the same day I found out I was accepted into graduate school
4. I decided not to go to Chile to teach English in lieu of going to grad school
5. Jason came to ASU by a series of similar events
6. Kristin & her boyfriend had just come back from Costa Rica during homecoming...which I had no desire to go to. 
7. My mom's friend was in town and told me to look at teaching abroad in American schools this week at dinner. 
8. My brother taught in Colombia which lead me to pursue this random career path
9. Kenny is living abroad in Australia..completely randomly (so brazen..he went without a job)
10. I can teach in any country with my Master's degree. 
11. Costa Rican schools start in January and end in December...I oddly graduate in December and would be available to start in January :)

I'm really excited about the possibility of going abroad again..and I'm really happy that I'm with someone who shares my ambitions.  I never thought I would be dating another person who wanted to teach English...it sounds strange--but literature and writing have been so important in my life..and it's exciting to start this new chapter with someone who shares my passion for so many things.

J has really been a blessing..I've never known this level of contentment and happiness.  Not only does he like me for who I am, with him I see who I could become.  He brings out the best in me and makes me want to be the best version of myself I can.  I don't want to waste our time together worrying or stressing, I just want to be with him...and that in itself is a wonderful gift.  .

The saying "too good to be true" flitters into my mind every now again, our life together so far has been so full of fun adventures..it's completely picturesque.  I think that is the part that scares both of us, where is the drama, the problems, the miscommunications? What other couple believes a sunset was just for them? Or who when they get lost see shooting stars? There is no one else I would rather share a godzilla size hot dog at Sun's game, lose to in tennis, laugh with over morning coffee, cuddle with throughout the night, dream of while I sleep, and wake up entangled with in the rays of morning light.  Oh..and wash dogs with in a dress.

We haven't said "I love you" --three words that carry more significance with him than ever before.  I don't think I've ever really been in love before...this relationship overshadows all others before it...makes them seem like superficial versions of emotional intimacy.  Whatever this may be between J and I has made me really, genuinely, blissfully happy.

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

- Captain Corelli's Mandolin. "Love is the beauty of the soul."