Full Circle

I used to be someone who was sort of reluctant to change. I remember always telling myself that I would never move away from my hometown. I couldn't even fathom the thought. But with growth came the desire for change, and the appetite for adventure. It had taken me a while to come out of my shell, but when I began to let go of my fears, a side of me opened up, a side that was no longer apprehensive of doing something different for once.

I was in my early 30s when I finally decided that something life-changing needed to happen for me, and it needed to happen quick. My life had become so bland, and I no longer felt challenged living in my hometown. I no longer felt inspired. I was ready for new experiences, ready to make new connections, ready to embark on a road of self-discovery, and I knew that the only way I was going to do that was to change my environment. My philosophy was simple - if things didn't quite work out, moving back home was always an option. There was nothing holding me back. I had no kids. No relationship. No obligations that would hinder me from making such a bold move. So, I did it.

I searched open positions in Phoenix, Arizona, and 30 days later, I was living across the country on the west coast. Things happened really fast. It was difficult to say goodbye to loved ones, and for a while, it didn't quite sink in that I wasn't just visiting Arizona; I was actually living there. I stayed there for three years, and while I enjoyed my time in such a beautiful state, I was beginning to feel as though I needed to be closer to family and friends again, so I interviewed for a position in Columbus, OH, and ended up getting an offer. My first stint in Ohio lasted for two years before I ended up landing another opportunity back in my hometown of Michigan, and after being gone for a total of five years, I decided to go back home.

I was in a really happy place when I first moved back home. I think being away for so long had given me the opportunity to miss the place that I held so close to my heart. It gave me the ability to see the city with a new set of eyes, and allowed me the chance to start anew. I was home for almost three years, and then something happened - something that would change my life forever, and I no longer felt safe in this place that I called home. It made me see everything differently, and those moments of happiness that I felt when I first moved back, had disappeared.

In the fall of 2015, I ended up moving back to Columbus because of a job opportunity, but more importantly, I felt it was time to clear my head and separate myself yet again, from my hometown. It was a bittersweet, but necessary move. This was probably my most important one yet because I'm in a different head space now than I was nine years ago when I first embarked on my journey of self-discovery. This past year has shown me just how resilient and fearless I am (because I never truly knew until I was tested), and how I should never be scared or reluctant to take action when my livelihood and well-being are compromised.

This blog post is a bit all over the place, and may not make sense to the vast majority of those reading it, but sometimes, my thoughts just need to be set free.

Photo via Her Agenda.