Things to Remember When Facing New Beginnings
If you were to ask 16-year-old Elena where she sees herself in 5 years time, she would definitely not say studying in Madrid, completely on her own. When I think about it if you were to tell me that even a year ago, I wouldn't have believed you. Although I'm here for 5 months, this time of my life presents a huge challenge, something unimaginable. But, I'm here. And I'm making it work. Every day brings a different challenge and every day I do something new for the first time. And I'm very aware of it because I know that the first time is the hardest, but also the most interesting.
Photos: Irina Krstevska
I'm living in the moment. For the first time in my life, I'm not scared about what will happen tomorrow, or what next week holds, or next month. I'm fully immersed in the now, no matter how cliche that sounds. I remember just last week I was taking a stroll in the park, all alone, no headphones on, listening to the Spanish chit-chatter around me. And all of a sudden I was standing there for 15 minutes straight just listening to this adorable old man play classical music on a bunch of glass cups. Just around the corner, a duo was having a mini-concert, with people gathered around them, singing along to every word. This is what I need, I thought. This is what I've been needing for a really long time.
I'm not saying everything is milk and honey. Oh, the number of times I've felt lost, or been actually lost in a city with a population of 3.2 million. I guess I jumped straight in the deep end with this choice, but nothing ever felt more right.
And this part goes out to everyone that has the desire to do something, but you're too scared. Scared about being alone, about things not going the way you imagined, that you'll miss your life back home. All those things are normal, I was scared of them too. But, I know that unless I try, I won't know for sure. And I always try to follow this "rule", no matter what I'm contemplating on doing. Just try, you have nothing to lose.
Author: Elena
Photos: Irina Krstevska
I'm living in the moment. For the first time in my life, I'm not scared about what will happen tomorrow, or what next week holds, or next month. I'm fully immersed in the now, no matter how cliche that sounds. I remember just last week I was taking a stroll in the park, all alone, no headphones on, listening to the Spanish chit-chatter around me. And all of a sudden I was standing there for 15 minutes straight just listening to this adorable old man play classical music on a bunch of glass cups. Just around the corner, a duo was having a mini-concert, with people gathered around them, singing along to every word. This is what I need, I thought. This is what I've been needing for a really long time.
I'm not saying everything is milk and honey. Oh, the number of times I've felt lost, or been actually lost in a city with a population of 3.2 million. I guess I jumped straight in the deep end with this choice, but nothing ever felt more right.
And this part goes out to everyone that has the desire to do something, but you're too scared. Scared about being alone, about things not going the way you imagined, that you'll miss your life back home. All those things are normal, I was scared of them too. But, I know that unless I try, I won't know for sure. And I always try to follow this "rule", no matter what I'm contemplating on doing. Just try, you have nothing to lose.
Author: Elena
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