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On Moving Forward in Year Six

It's funny how different dates stick out in our minds, dates we will likely always remember. Today, I am reminiscent of this day six years ago when I travelled to find an apartment in preparation for my internship. At the end of a long day, I found the perfect apartment, one that would be mine for two and a half years.

That seems so long ago, that date, that time in my life. The one that served as the beginning of the next chapter in my life. I am so grateful for the stability I now feel thanks to the tremendous changes that have taken place over the last six years.

Very few people in my life know how much I have struggled, mostly internally, in this job. It has been a lot for me to manage, and most times I feel like I am failing. I think though that's been common in my life in general. It has been a constant battle for me to recognize my own strengths. However, it is a battle I keep fighting, because I will not give up. I am grateful that slowly, in the last six years, more and more, I have become more confident, my self-esteem slightly improving.

As we head into year six, I am trying to feel the confidence that people have in me. I am striving to remind myself that I am doing a great job, and as difficult as it always is, I am committing to not beating myself up, recognizing my accomplishments for what they are.

Each year I am more and more grateful for the people in my life that have helped me get to this point, and this year is no different. Hard work and perseverance are in large part why I am here today, but I cannot stop there. God has placed incredible people in my life, and without them, I would not be where I am. I need people. I thrive when  people take the time to listen, I excel when people empathize with me. I push myself further when people encourage me, and I laugh more when people help me make light of a difficult situation.

Year six is here. Early on, there were moments I wondered if I would make it to day six, and yet here I am, ready for whatever may be next.

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