One thing I am most proud of is my relationship with God. This journey has tested my faith more times than I can count. Just last week, I found myself thinking, Lord, I can’t be tested anymore. But, as my mother reminded me the other day, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. I’ve also often heard that God wouldn’t give us battles we couldn’t handle, yet I still find myself asking, Why me? I know I can handle a lot, but it can feel overwhelming when you’re walking the road alone.

What I’ve learned to appreciate about this rollercoaster ride is that, during the highs, I can fully embrace and enjoy the moment. During the lows, I can challenge myself to find the positives. I’ve started asking myself: What can I learn from this? How can I do better next time? What good can I find in this situation, even if it’s difficult right now? Training my mind to think this way has been essential in navigating the tough times. It’s a lonely journey at times, but it’s also full of growth.

I’ve had to rely on and trust God more than ever before. The unknowns constantly cross my mind, and as I’ve mentioned before, I am the queen of overthinking. It’s easy for me to spiral into what ifs. A current example of this is what I’m dealing with right now. As an American, I can travel around Europe for 90 days without a visa. My 90-day mark is October 5th, and today is September 19th. My paperwork is submitted to the proper authorities, and I believe I’ve done everything I’m supposed to—but I can’t help but wonder: What if I don’t get my residence permit in time? Will I have to go home? What will happen to everything I’ve worked so hard for?

These are the moments where I have to silence the noise in my head and remind myself: What I can’t control, I can’t control. It’s in God’s hands now. Learning to have faith and trust the process has been the foundation of keeping myself sane through all of this. I keep reminding myself of what I wrote in my previous blog about forward thinking—focusing on what’s ahead and blocking out as many what ifs as possible. It’s a daily practice, but one that continues to strengthen me in ways I never expected.

Xoxo, Harleigh