Well, here goes nothing...

T-minus17 hours and 18 minutes.

....that is all the time left of what seemed like an endless number of days left on my calendar to day dream about my European adventure ahead. I cannot believe the time has finally arrived and the best way I can describe how I am feeling is simply anxious. I am ready to arrive in Germany and start my adventure, no doubt about that, but I wouldn't be Molly if I was not slightly nervous and jitty about the whole thing. Naturally I have also managed to find the bittersweet taste of things I will be leaving behind like my roommates 21st birthdays, dressing up for Halloween (although, I am bringing Ke$h with to Germany) and all those fall football games...but this is an adventure of a lifetime and I can't let those things hold me back, even for a second.

As most of you know, this has not been the easiest year for me or my family, but now is my chance to turn it around. I chose to name this blog, "Chasing Chance is for the Brave" because now is my time to do just that...chase chance and learn about life on my own. It also just happens to be a line from my "theme song" for this adventure. Yes, another one of Mollys theme songs. This song is called "Nothing Ever Happens" by Rachel Platten, and it perfectly describes my worries as well as goals for this trip. I have a song (or 2, or 12) I love for just about every memorable moment in my life, or any emotion I am feeling. Morgan is the writer in the family, not me (this is my apology for bad grammar in this blog along with horrifically long run on sentences..I tend to write how I speak..and probably boring thoughts). I just find the words I wish I could write in different songs that display my feelings far better than I ever could and I cling to those songs through the good and the bad. Point being, "Nothing Ever Happens" displays what my biggest goal for this trip is...and if you want to understand you are better off listening to the song then reading my attempt to explain. So..go ahead, listen to Rach and then come back and finish reading this entry. You probably should listen to it twice and then come back and read...the second time is always better...

I really do hope to get better at this whole blogging thing and being able to express myself through my own words rather than someone elses, but that is just one of the goals on the "Germany to do list". Aside from obvious like, meet new friends, improve my German, maybe meet a cute German boy...my greatest goal is to learn about myself and keep the promise I made to try something new every single day, all 118 days I am away. Thats what I take from this song. Try something new, even when your oh-so scared to do so...and push past everything holding you back..because in reality..you are the ONLY one holding you back.

I can't come back from Europe without stories and adventures. So prepare yourself to read about at least 118 of them (no worries, my entries will not always be this long..I don't think I'll have time for that). Now is my time to listen to Rach,

"leave what you don't need. you're free and the pieces will fall into place. you and you only who can make a little space and get out of your own way."

Bring it on Germany! Ich bin bereit!
Thank you for all of your support. I love and miss you all :)
- Molly