Six Months Later...A Check Up.
It's been stated lately by three of my closest friends from different stages of life that I seem happy. Like not just in a good mood this week kind of happy but genuinely, down to the core, happy. And in taking a minute to reflect on it, I think they're right. I AM happy. And it's a good feeling. When I debated the move from St. Louis back home in December, I was filled with a lot of anxiety and fear about leaving a place where I was comfortable and "established"-- more or less for lack of a better word -- to come back home. Yes, home was a place I knew with family to support me but it had been over 10 years since I had more than visited New Orleans and my social network in the city was borderline depressing. When I moved back at the end of January and spent those first couple months living at home with my parents, I remember wondering on the reg whether I had made the right choice. Sure, I LOVED being closer to my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my soon to be born niece (4 months yesterday!) but I couldn't shake the discomfort and the worry that the grass might not actually be greener.
Next week marks 6 months since I moved back to New Orleans and when I reflect on these last six months, I can say confidently and without a doubt that the move back was absolutely the right decision and that I am happy. And not happy in a comfortable/I need to be challenged sort of way but happy in a content, blessed, life is good sort of way. Though I'm still building my professional and personal networks in the city, I'm proud of how far I've come thus far and the highs that have been sprinkled throughout my last 6 months here.
Some of those highs?
So yes, life is good! And with my best friend visiting in two weeks and another friend the week after, White Linen Night, Red Dress Run, and the YLC Gala all around the corner, there's still much to look forward to. I reflect on all of these things as one of my best friends from graduate school just made the move down here this week after a 3 year stint in Atlanta. I know that she's going to have some moments of doubt (and possibly fear) as to whether this was the right move. Hopefully as she finds her footing and navigates her way, she'll find herself as enamored with this city as I have become.
Cheers.
Next week marks 6 months since I moved back to New Orleans and when I reflect on these last six months, I can say confidently and without a doubt that the move back was absolutely the right decision and that I am happy. And not happy in a comfortable/I need to be challenged sort of way but happy in a content, blessed, life is good sort of way. Though I'm still building my professional and personal networks in the city, I'm proud of how far I've come thus far and the highs that have been sprinkled throughout my last 6 months here.
Some of those highs?
- Mardi Gras for the first time in ages
- Closing on my first condo - Becoming a HOMEOWNER!
- French Quarter Festival
- Crawfish Boils
- My niece's birth, baptism, and the many opportunities I've had to visit with her!
- Sunday evening family dinners
- Running of the Bulls
- Day trip to Bay St. Louis
- Streetcar rides down to the Quarter
- YLC's Wednesdays at the Square
- Jumping into the dating scene here in the city
- Volunteering with RECreate on Saturday mornings
- Shruti and Evie visiting for the 4th of July
- Runs through Audubon Park
- Trivia at Dat Dog on Wednesday nights with the Red Feathers
- Checking out new hot spots like Bouligny Tavern, Cure, and Publiq House
So yes, life is good! And with my best friend visiting in two weeks and another friend the week after, White Linen Night, Red Dress Run, and the YLC Gala all around the corner, there's still much to look forward to. I reflect on all of these things as one of my best friends from graduate school just made the move down here this week after a 3 year stint in Atlanta. I know that she's going to have some moments of doubt (and possibly fear) as to whether this was the right move. Hopefully as she finds her footing and navigates her way, she'll find herself as enamored with this city as I have become.
Cheers.
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