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23: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

As my birthday is approaching in 2 days, I like to reflect back on what this past year of being 23 years old had in store.

I remember last year at this time I was in the stage of the unknown. I was in my last class of my credential and I did not know where the Lord wanted me to work or even if I was going to get a job that school year. For the first two months of being 23 all I did was sit at the computer and send job application after job application. Little did I know the Lord was asking me to sit and be patient because he had the perfect job for me...a Special Education Kindergarten Teacher in Riverside. This was a HUGE step out of my comfort zone because I was thinking I would be teaching in Orange County and I thought I would teach more older kids.

Well, let me tell you just when you think you know what you want the Lord bumps you and says "no, my dear Nicole, I have a better plan for you". So here I was taking a big step out of my comfort zone but it ended up being the best thing to happen to me. That school, staff, and kiddos have impacted my life in a million ways and I love every single day I get to go to work. It has truly become my second home and I cannot wait to go back for my second year of teaching. Thank goodness I trusted the Lord and took that leap of faith.

Then...something I really didn't expect happened in this year. I traveled to 3 different places all by myself...like WHAT? I never thought I could ever go travel on a plane independently let alone go to 3 different places (Colorado, Sacramento, and New Zealand). Also, the last place New Zealand was a huge journey to do independently and I did it!

If you wanna know what year 23 taught me. Well it taught me to never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and go in to the unknown. It taught me to say yes even though you may not know what that yes may entail. If I could go and sit with myself a year ago and look into the eyes of my scared self I would say don't worry my dear for the Lord has something huge planned out for you this year that you will never expect. I am a braver and stronger woman today because of year 23 and I praise the Lord everyday for the unexpected journey he continues to take me on. I  look at the year 24 and I know not to worry for the Lord is my Shepherd and he has a plan much bigger than mine. So cheers to the unexpected journey of year 23 and bring on the beauty of year 24!

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