I have a plan! A big, exciting, terrifying, mind-boggling plan.

It’s my 2 year plan, in fact.

I’m going back to France.

But this time, I’m selling all my furniture, giving up my apartment and bringing my boyfriend with me. For the next 2 years, we’ll be splitting our time between Canada and France, while I continue to study at Studio Escalier. (As long as they’ll have me, that is!)

As I wrote before, my six months in France were life changing, and for once, in a positive way. I learned and grew so much, and I know that there’s still a treasure trove of goodness waiting for me there.

So while on the one hand, I’m terrified – this is a huge undertaking – I’m also incredibly excited. I’m learning all of the things I never thought I’d be able to learn. I’m finally starting to make the art that I’ve always dreamed of and I know it’s only going to get better. It makes me quite giddy.

And it’s not like France is some horrible place to live either, so that’s a bonus. (Oh, the croissants. The croissants. But the jello’d meat I can leave.)

And this time, I get to bring Jesse, which means it will be even more awesome. Because I know he’s brave enough to try the jello’d meat. I could never quite bring myself to do it.

It’s a dream come true.

I’ve always wanted to travel, and live in Europe, ever since I was a kid and realized that was a thing you could do with your life. I’ve always wanted to understand what the Old Masters understood.

And now I get all of that in one shiny package.

I am a happy Sarah.

What happens next

My next step is to start planning how to bring this show on the road: systems, organization, hiring Jesse to respond to emails while I’m in class, figuring out how to keep selling art while I’m on the road. Not super complicated stuff, just logistical things. I want to run a smoother, more prepared and organized business than I do now.

I won’t lie and say I’m not terrified and overwhelmed. I totally have moments where I just pull my blanket up over my head and hide for a while. I mean, the financial logistics alone are scary enough to give me a heart attack.

But I also feel like this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing right now. So I’ll keep moving forward, one itty-bitty step at time.

Until one day, I’ll look down and realize that I’m running.