Serendipity

Here I sit, in the DFW international airport, and I feel completely at home.

I am embarking on the adventure of a lifetime… studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria for a full semester!

Today I add one more stamp on my passport, a few thousand more miles to my flight record, and one more leap of faith to my bucket list.

I am so incredibly excited for what’s to come!

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When preparing myself for this incredible journey, I tried to figure out what I expect from my upcoming trip.

Knowing my tendency to over-plan, over-analyze, and my struggles living in the moment, this seemed like a dangerous pasttime– until I happened upon my new favorite word:

Serendipity.

ser·en·dip·i·ty

: luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for

Basically: a fortunate happenstance. Being surprised by something entirely pleasant. Finding yourself in unplanned, unimaginable situations that bring joy… unexpectedly. (Disney reference. Anybody?)

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I decided right then and there that this would be my mantra, my theme, my goal for this adventure: to keep my eyes and heart open for lovely moments of serendipity, and to enjoy them wholeheartedly when they come.

I was so obsessed that I created a T-Shirt! I sketched out a mock-up of my own calligraphy and used fabric paint to make it come alive on a simple white tee. I now have my own black-and-white graphic tee, and mine doesn’t even have any funky messed-up incorrect french phrases on it!

I love the casual, brushed-handwriting look, so I really played it up on the downstrokes of my letters. 

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As I ditch my breezy sundresses for black boots, and my sunshades for light jackets, I find myself re-inventing what it means to be me. I hope that this trip is full of self-discovery, joy, and adventure.

I am ready for find my serendipity.

“Dip your serenity in serendipity and let the surprise be your prize”
-ALAgrAphY

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Mandi