Goodbye Windy City, Hello Star City!
Well we’ve made it.
A little over a week ago we hit the road and made our way to the Star City (Roanoke, VA). I wish I could tell you that all of the boxes have been unpacked, but unfortunately they haven’t. It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do (no job), so I’m taking my sweet time putting everything in its rightful place. Plus, I would rather spend my time exploring the city or hanging out with these kids.
(my nieces Kaitlyn & Ella on a hayride)
(my niece Madelyn in the corn maze)
I wish I could tell you it’s been all rainbows and butterflies in these parts, but I’m not gonna lie, the first few days were TOUGH. First of all, life as I know it was turned upside down. I’ve left the Midwest for the east coast, the big city for a small town, from Chi-CAW-go accents to southern accents, public transportation/walking everywhere to DRIVING everywhere (including down the street). YOU GET THE POINT… BIG CHANGES.
Secondly, I was overtired, weepy & bitchy from the weeks of packing and the moving process all together.
The first night I freaked out about getting everything unpacked and not having enough storage space in our apartment (no linen closet or a pantry… who’s ever heard of such a thing). Anything and everything was stressing me out. So, the next day I woke up and tried to take a step back from the boxes and clutter. Why does everything have to be unpacked and look flawless in the first week? I need to chill the ____ out and take my time. I don’t have a job yet, and until I do, I’ve got all the time in the world to unpack this stuff. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!!
I decided to change my attitude about everything. Enough with the pity party. If I had something better to do, I was going to go out and do it. The boxes will get unpacked, I will just organize and unpack a few things each day.
So far so good. My new attitude and outlook on life has been working out well. I’ve been waking up early making Ryan and I a smoothie (I’ll share the recipe soon) and then seeing him off as he heads to work. Then I watch some daytime TV while sending resumes and sipping coffee. After some job searching, I head down to the gym and get a little work out in (because as in the words of Elle Woods, “exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy”). Things have been infinitely better. Sure I miss my friends and Chicago (and probably always will), but I’ve started to appreciate things that I haven’t been able to for the last few years. Things I just didn’t do in Chicago… Like driving around town, windows rolled down enjoying the 70 degree October weather or taking the time to admire the natural beauty all around me… the sunshine, mountains, colorful autumn foliage. I can even see the stars at night (something that just doesn’t happen in downtown Chicago).
Instead of feeling defeated and lost in this new place. I’m starting to feel excited and ready to embrace all that it has to offer.
I CAN do this and I WILL l make the most out of this experience.
Sorry for the rambling and for the lack of blogging lately, but I’ve had lots on my mind and I wasn’t sure how I wanted to express it.
