The Problem Wasn't the Move

Inspired by michelle ray’s Story Brunch, a monthly writing space held on the last Sunday of every month. A huge thank you to Michelle for creating a space that continues to stretch me as a writer and reminds me that trying something outside my comfort zone is usually where the best stories begin.

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17 hours in a car, and I was so happy to finally stretch my legs. I didn’t realize when I got to touch grass, it would feel off, different, hard even.

I looked around and saw houses that all looked alike. I looked up, and the sun wasn’t just shining, it was giving off a heat I couldn’t breathe in. Everywhere I turned, it was different.

Different stores, different gas stations, different main roads.

I told myself this was the fresh start I needed.

I soon realized I was far from the loud noises, the big buildings, the busy streets, the ones full of garbage, far from what raised me, far from all I knew.

Now I was getting a tan poolside and thought, maybe this is the life.

It was easy to romanticize the move when I didn’t have anywhere to be. Every day still felt like an adventure. Every new restaurant, every unfamiliar road, every palm tree made it feel like I’d finally escaped the life I’d been trying to leave behind.

But was this the life?

I arrived with a job lined up, but after a follow-up conversation, I felt it wasn’t a good fit.

Now what?

Just because I was now living in a top vacation state didn’t mean I was on vacation.

After a few weeks, I was struggling to find a job. My money was slowly disappearing, and I wasn’t sure what I would do. The excitement of living somewhere new was slowly being replaced by questions I didn’t have answers to.

There was a strip mall right down the road that had a store I knew tons about because I had already worked for them.

I took a shot, hoping something familiar could make this unfamiliar place feel a little more like home.

After three interviews, I finally got the good news I was hoping for.

I got a job.

The move still felt uncertain, but for the first time since arriving, it finally felt possible.