In life, we usually focus on the big things. Whether thats a life change or a significant date, we choose to write about and discuss the important, major obstacles and events in our lives.
JULY- one of the hottest months of the year in Florida that marks the middle of the Summer, tan-skinned, a break from school, and many beach Days. For many people, I am sure July brings some anxiety just by the sole fact that it is included in the Hurricane Season, while also being a month that brings people joy due to the Hallmark channel playing Holiday movies all month long to celebrate the manmade “Christmas in July”. For me, July has become a big month over the years, especially July 2022. This is not for any reason in particular or a month that marked significant change, but a month that recognizes a lot of constants in my life- and celebrates them.
The word transition is one with many meanings. A word that can be used positively or negatively. A word that can mark a great time in one’s life, or a time of stress, confusion and even loss. A word that can be synonymous with change, making it a common occurrence- for many of us, anyways.
I guess it’s true what they say, time really does FLY when you are having fun.
As I sit here and try to reflect on the past year of South Florida Theater Magazine and life in general, I have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that it really has been a full year.
Growing up it seems like anyone older than you, even slightly, reminded you to live in the moment and not wish your youth away. Every birthday card was signed with a message consisting of “life goes faster than you think”. Though on the contrary, and speaking from experience, in your youth all you want to do is be older than the age you are.
As you may or may not tell from my name, Bridget Leigh Callinan, I come from a mostly Irish heritage, with a little mix of Irish-English in there. My mom, Norma Jane O’keefe, comes from a complete Irish background and my dad, Richard William Callinan’s, ancestry comes from an Irish-English background. The picture below shows the family tree from my fathers side, further proving my love for the Irish culture. I don’t know if my love comes from the knowledge of my ancestry, the Americanized St. Patricks Day holiday, the accents, or the drinks (snakebites, and Irish-car bombs).
After a long-awaited month, I am back with the third and final part of my move-out journey series that has been the main subject in my life since August. I started this exciting series with a positive outlook on growth and change in Part One, continued Part Two with the less fun details of preparing for a move, and now we are at Part Three which is a reflection post move-out. I write this blog as I now sit in my fully furnished apartment, looking out at my view of the sunset and silhouette buildings, all whilst cuddled up in a furry blanket on the couch.
I have always been huge on traditions. Whether it’s holiday traditions, silly family traditions or even traditions you create with your friends, I’m huge on them. Enough to the point that I was upset when I was old enough to discover the Easter bunny did not exist and is instead a made-up myth to stimulate children’s imagination. Now trust me, I definitely don’t want to be a 23 (soon to be 24-year old) and still believe the Easter Bunny is real, but I would still have a blast at the Easter egg hunt I did every year with my cousins as we grew up and dressing up and attending Easter church services.
If you have been an avid reader of my blog (hi mom), you may have noticed that I was MIA for the month of November. I can list off plenty of excuses as to why that happened, but instead I will acknowledge my shortcomings and promise to not miss blessing this website with one of my blogs EVER AGAIN! All joking aside, I am very excited that I am finally able to create part 2 of my move out journey blog! Sit back and relax because this blog is going to take you through a rollercoaster of emotions, but let’s start off positively with the emotion of excitement.
“Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold”
I grew up really believing in that one line from a Girl Scout song. Believing that IF I was able to remain friends with the people I grew up with, while also expanding my circle by making new friends, that I would have all the silver and gold one could get. However, the older I got, the more I realized this one-liner expresses a nice ideal of an ever-expanding circle of friends, but ideal is not reality. Not for me anyways. I know that’s not the case for everyone and that sometimes friendships do turn out the way the song intends, and I commend those whose do, but my experience within friendships is not the same. This doesn’t mean I have had friendships end in tragic ways each time, though. Most of the ended friendships I’ve had have fallen victim to the unavoidable result of growing up and growing apart. Of course, I’ve had a few friendship breakups that were more traumatic and ended in blocking each other on all forms of social media and well, life. But every friendship I’ve had at every stage of my life, has made me the person I am today. Luckily, I have lost more friends due to growing apart than any sort of betrayal or falling out, but the constant change of friendship happens to majority of people during their lives and that’s just that.
