Enya's "Anywhere is"

I often find myself mesmerized by the lyrics of a song. Take, for example, the following lyrics from "Anywhere is" by Enya:

The moon upon the ocean is swept around in motion,
but without ever knowing the reason for its flowing,
in motion on the ocean,
the moon still keeps on moving,
the waves still keep on waving,
and I still keep on going.

I dreamed a dream

When I graduated with my bachelor's from A&M, I wanted my master's. Now that I have my master's, I want my PhD. My ambitions never end, I suppose. I'm putting the PhD plans on hold or a while. I was lucky enough to have had professors who encouraged me to cultivate my writing and teaching interests.

As I'm looking for a teaching job, I'm reminiscing about my teaching experience at the University of New Mexico. I absolutely loved it. There were times I felt discouraged in my graduate studies, but my love of teaching propelled me forward even when I didn't think I had it in me to read another book or write another paper. I knew that if I ever threw in the towel, I would have to give up teaching. I would have to give up my students. And I didn't want to do that. So I would dust myself off (really! Gotta love New Mexico haha!), drink some more coffee, and read that book for the master's comprehensive exam. Or write that paper about Mexican-American identity. Because I knew deep down that it would all lead to something great.

I am so thankful for the two years that I spent in Albuquerque. I grew so much from my time there, and I have no regrets. It feels wonderful being able to say that.

I sometimes wonder where I'll be in ten years, fifteen years, twenty years... Many things come to mind.

I dream about teaching at a DoDDS school in Spain or Germany.
I dream about owning a beach house somewhere on the Texas gulf coast.
I dream about being a professor.
I dream about writing books and becoming a best-selling author. Mrs. Coulter, my third grade teacher, always believed this would happen.

I dream about being happy in my career.
I dream about owning a ranch and horses.
I dream about finding someone who loves me for me and understands me.
I dream about having and raising a happy and healthy child.
I dream about being 100% comfortable in my own skin.

Life is wonderful.

The ocean, just one of my many favorite things

I recently went to the beach in Galveston with my family and remembered how much I loved the ocean. The way it tastes like saltine crackers and stings my eyes. The way the waves lap gently against the shore and how the sounds of the waves drown out all the thoughts floating in my head. Nothing matters at that moment in time except the present moment. I am there on the beach and nowhere else. Not stressing out about finding a job or if I'll ever get my PhD or if ....or if....this "if" evades me as long as I'm standing on the seashore.

The way the ocean stretches endlessly across the horizon reminds me that I am such a small creature, staring into a vast abyss that stretches endlessly, immeasurably.

There's something very liberating about the ocean. I feel at peace and uninhibited. I can do anything I want. Be anything I want. Go anywhere.

Let the job hunt begin!

I graduated ....now what?