It’s been 10 months since we became Austinites and with me turning another year older, I naturally wanted to reflect on the biggest change and transition in my lifetime. Of course, this blog’s purpose is to chronicle my experiences here but for this post, I wanted to write about what I’m thankful for.
Last year was interesting in that, I spent exactly 6 months in New Jersey and exactly 6 months in Texas. The months leading up to the move was stressful but once we arrived, we slowly but surely settled in nicely and have enjoyed every new experience along the way. I’ve long been thankful for what will always be home (NJ), it shaped me and I wear ‘NEW JERSEY’ (like a badge of honor) both literally and figuratively. That will never change. As we quickly approach one year in Austin, I also can’t be thankful enough for this wonderful city and all of its’ surrounding towns. The people, the outdoor spaces, the places, and Austin’s energy is something I get to enjoy every day and I love it more and more. “300 days of sunshine…” and incredible weather year-round is a bonus too!
Having lived in one place my whole life, I had no idea what to expect when I moved here. We visited twice but it wasn’t enough of a sample size to determine how our day to day lives would unfold but therein lies the excitement of the journey, a brand new city and state, in, and of itself presents near infinite opportunities to discover something new. Couple these opportunities with an obviously east coast influenced hunger to seek out culture, food, and activity….and you have the formula for making the transition much, much easier.
Just a few short years ago, I did not foresee myself being here. I truly felt New Jersey would be MY home for a lifetime. I feared the prospects of leaving what’s familiar. I dreaded leaving family but I was also mindful of my own family with two little ones and what I wanted for them moving forward- a better quality of life. Suddenly, the more and more I thought about it, the decision became much less daunting.
I’m one year older today and I must say that once you open yourself up to taking the road less traveled, once you overcome your fears to try new things, meet new people, and further cultivate your passions while creating new ones-you then start to write your own book of lifetime experiences. Experiences for which to build values that are truly priceless.
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