Life has a way of pulling us in many directions, making it easy to get caught up in everything. Our thoughts, beliefs, morals, school, work, and beyond. Right now, I feel as if I’m in a transitional period where everything happening around me is unfolding with purpose. Perhaps life has always been like this, but only now, with the space to breathe, am I able to reflect and be more in tune with my thoughts.

Looking back, every event and interaction leading up to this point has undoubtedly happened for a reason. Sometimes, the smallest moments like a conversation, a chance encounter, or a decision made on a whim end up shaping our paths in ways we never expected. Whether it was the difficult nine months back home working endlessly, which pushed me to my breaking point, or the realization that I needed a change, every step has led me here. Life is nothing but stepping stones, a combination of highs and lows that shape us into who we are meant to be.

This morning, as I sipped my coffee on a beautiful terrace in my favorite European city, I found myself chuckling. How did I get here? If someone had told me five months ago that I’d be living in Austria, I wouldn’t have believed them. Two thoughts immediately came to mind: First, God is so good. The way He took me from where I was just months ago to where I am now is nothing short of amazing. Second, I thought about the specific events and stepping stones that led me to Salzburg.

A Stepping Stone to Salzburg

In the spring of 2021, my roommates and I took a trip to Las Vegas for one of their 21st birthdays. At the hotel pool, we met a group from California, and I bonded with one of them in particular. As we talked, he mentioned that he was originally from a village near Salzburg, Austria, though he had spent most of his life in California.

At the time, I had been back in the U.S. for about a year after living in France, and any opportunity to connect with someone who shared an interest in Europe intrigued me. We talked for some time, and before parting ways, I mentioned that if I ever found myself in Europe again, I’d visit Salzburg. In that moment, neither of us expected to ever cross paths again. It was one of those fleeting conversations where the idea sounds nice but was unlikely.

Fast forward a year later: I moved to Germany in March 2022 for another study abroad program. Remembering my conversation from Vegas, I reached out to him on social media to let him know I was back in Europe. He replied, mentioning that he would be returning to Austria in a few months after finishing school.

As time passed, we made plans for me to visit Salzburg. I took a train there for what I thought would be just a few days, but little did I know, that trip would change my life. One day, we drove to Mondsee, a picturesque lake near Salzburg. It was one of those rare moments where everything felt perfect. Where happiness and contentment were so overwhelming that nothing else in the world mattered. I was completely in awe of the beauty around me and deeply grateful for the experience.

Leaving Salzburg was difficult, but as I left, I told myself: I’ll need some time, but one day, I’m moving here. That feeling of belonging stayed with me for a long time. Perhaps that’s why, during those long months back in the U.S., I couldn’t shake the feeling that Arizona was no longer where I was meant to be at the given time.

Everything Comes Full Circle

Looking back, I can’t help but wonder what if my roommates and I had never walked down to that pool in Las Vegas? Would I still be in Salzburg today? Would I have ever visited last summer if I hadn’t met that one person? How would I have known I loved Salzburg enough to move here? It’s fascinating to think about how one small interaction, one decision, or one unexpected event can set the course for something much greater.

Life is full of these moments. Stepping stones that push us toward new experiences, realizations, and paths we never expected to take. The beauty of it all is that we don’t always recognize their significance at the time, but in hindsight, we see how every piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly.

The Main Takeaway

Everyone is just one conversation, one decision, or one unexpected moment away from stepping into an entirely new journey. So I am here to say when life feels overwhelming or uncertain, remember that God is always working behind the scenes. You never know what tomorrow will bring, and you might just be on the verge of embarking on a journey that will change your life in ways you never expected.

Xoxo, Harleigh