What is a new beginning? For me, it’s a new start in life, giving you a chance to wipe the slate clean and press the reset button. A fresh start that life gives you will look and feel different. A new beginning can be a fun new adventure. At times, starting a new journey means taking steps into the unknown. This may make us afraid to leave what is familiar behind us. But you know what? Some of the best things that have happened to me is because I had to say goodbye to the place I knew and say hello to the unknown.
When I was younger I got to experience a whole new beginning in my life. Some people may not know this about me, but I was born in Arizona. My family and I moved to Tennessee when I was 6 years old. We moved here for many reasons, but what we didn’t know was that God had his own big plan for bringing us out here.
His big plan was life changing and saving. At 11 years old, I was diagnosed with brain cancer. I was treated at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. If it wasn’t for this incredible children’s hospital, right in my own backyard, who knows where I would be today.
When we were moving across country we had no idea how important this move would be to my life. At the time, we had to say goodbye to an entire life that we once knew. We felt excitement for our new journey, but we also felt a hole in our heart for what we were leaving behind. On our new path to start a new beginning we enjoyed what each new day would bring. Since we did a week-long road trip from Arizona to Tennessee, we would stop and smell the roses. I remember enjoying the travels, the hotels, the new restaurants, and picturesque scenery along the way. I went from the sunny desert landscape to the luscious foliage land. I feel spoiled because both places are striking and offering up colorful treats for our viewing pleasure.
In Nashville, Tennessee, my life forever changed. I was diagnosed with brain cancer. My life turned upside-down because of my health. I completed my cancer treatment here, and my new Tennessee beginning gave me many more new starts. I am now starting a new life as a survivor. At my hospital I am now entering the survivor clinic for the first time. I am saying hello to survivorship and I am saying goodbye to treatment. I am excited to learn what this new journey is all about. There will be new people, new doctors, new learnings, and me just trying to figure out my new life as a cancer survivor. But you know what? I think the landscape and the new start is going to be beautiful! Cancer treatment for me is now a chapter that is already written. It has shaped who I am and has altered so much of me. I get to start a new chapter with the new me.
Today, this born-in-Arizona, raised-in-Tennessee girl, completely loves new beginnings and looks forward to the future full of unknowns. As I write and develop my new unknown chapter in my life, this I say “Hello!”
Jessica Meyer
Positively Jessica
“Today I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter in my life.” – Unknown Author
I invite you to visit my YouTube channel Positively Jessica where you can learn about me enjoying life and my new “vlog the blog” series to see more about my blog creation and behind the scenes of this article. https://youtu.be/wE1rQLGDKc0 Enjoy!
All images courtesy of Jessica Meyer.
