what I learned from Anne and Jo

I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it.

-Anne of Avonlea

Growing up, some of my favorite movies included girls with adventurous spirits. Jo March. Anne Shirley. They leave home on some grand adventure, inspired by the stories they discovered in books. While there, they have lots of experiences that challenge them in new and different ways. They meet people they love. People whose lives they impact and vice versa. They experience fun and exciting things.

I always wanted to be like them. To go somewhere new. See the world. See the places I read about in books and saw in movies. Now I am like them. In more ways than one.

You see, while Jo and Anne were off on there adventures, they missed home. The people and places that shaped them. They discovered that it's not the places you go, but what you do while you are there. You don't have to go to far away, exciting places to be fulfilled. You simply go where your heart leads you. Sometimes your heart leads you home.

Does this mean I will be home forever? Probably not. My restless, adventurous spirit will be ready to go again shortly after getting home. But now I know that it's okay call the Carolinas home.

"Another sunny day in California. I'm sure back home they'd love to see it. But they don't know that what you love is ripped away. Before you get a chance to feel it "

-Back Home, Yellowcard