Brand New Me

Many of the posts that we've made to the blog have in a roundabout way talked about the changes we've gone through over the past 2 months or so. For me it is worth explicitly calling out some of the bigger ones because they are a large part of our journey. When starting out on this adventure, I wanted to take this opportunity to become a better me - not necessarily a "new" me (don't worry, there won't be any Hollywood plastic surgery or anything), but a better version of who I already am. For example, I hate exercising. I find it tedious, unsatisfying, and I can almost always find something else to do with my time. But, since we decided we were moving and starting over, I've decided that I need to be healthier. So I've been running, working out on my Wii Fit, and eating healthier. And I'm already seeing results!

Another thing that has changed is my hair. Naturally, it is straight with a bit of a wave that makes it look messy. In college, I had curly hair for a few years, and I loved it. It was easy to manage, fun and just different enough to feel like it set me apart in some way. So, the week after I left work, I curled my hair, and haven't regretted it for a moment.

Last but certainly not least, I've made a major adjustment to the way that I think about the future. I'm the type of person that feels most comfortable when everything is planned out, organized, and predictable. From the moment that Mike and I decided to move to the Left Coast, I knew that I was going to have to let go of that need to plan and cede some of the control. First, it meant I needed to fully hand over some of the moving and planning responsibilities to Mike, and trust that he would take care of them (so hard to do for a control-freak!). Next, I was going to have to be flexible. For example, we didn't know when our stuff would be delivered until after the movers picked us up, and even then they changed it the day before. So for the whole trip across the country, we were continually making plans as we went. And finally, I had to operate with a certain amount of "unknown." When I first got here, I only knew how to get to a few places (campus, the grocery store, maybe the airport if I really had to.) I could count on one hand the people I knew in the area. I hadn't started looking for a job, yet, either. In short, there have been lots of "mental" challenges along the way, but I think embracing the changes and challenges and jumping in with both feet has been most rewarding. It is actually fun to fly by the seat of your pants, and have faith and confidence that everything will be just fine. Maybe my new laissez faire world-view means I'm already becoming a Californian! ... nah.