To say the past week has been brutal would be an understatement. I certainly don’t want to write an entire blog post complaining… but I loved connecting with you guys when I got so vulnerable in this post over real life, truthful, honest stuff. The kind of stuff we don’t talk about that much because we feel the need to say “things are great – it’s all good!” whenever someone asks, regardless of what’s really going on.
I’ve been running on an empty tank. I’ve never had a moving experience that was this challenging and exhausting.
After doing extensive research (and paying more than I ever have for a move), our movers were terrible for many different reasons. To name just a few, they started off six hours late. Then brought in all the boxes first even though we asked them to bring the furniture so when they left 5.5 hours later, we couldn’t even walk in our new place, making it next to impossible to unpack anything. Many things were chipped, dented, marked up, they left us with their trash, etc. PSA: If you’re in the Orange County area and looking for movers, email me and I’ll point you in the right direction. For about three days I’ve been brewing my Yelp review that is to come for this company… my only form of justice. Justice shall be served!!!
Our second night in our new place I sobbed for two hours, like a child. It felt like I couldn’t breath, I was claustrophobic, stressed and overwhelmed. Two weeks ago everything was cozy and great, and now it felt like everything was upside down.
The pets have had a little bit of trouble adjusting (this happened when we moved from Mississippi also), and we don’t have a washer & dryer yet so there’s laundry and pet accidents just hanging out in our apartment. My car barely fits in the garage spot we’re paying extra to have access to – thank God I have an old car because I will for sure be scratching it up, #Godbless #notfromhere.
I could list 20 more inconveniences and challenges that have risen in the past week. Things I didn’t even realize would be obstacles have become obstacles. Nothing is easy and everything costs $$$, even when it comes to throwing away your trash. As in like, hundreds of dollars… for getting rid of your moving trash.
BUT in order to try to keep my chin up during times like this, I remember this:
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Nothing worth having comes easy, and the best experiences and moments usually happen outside of your comfort zone. In my life I’ve found this to be so true.
Christian and I went to dinner on our last night together in Orange County. Just a little neighborhood spot and a typical weekend go-to for us. We were reflecting on the past five years and how slow and fast they’ve gone by.
I’m definitely not who I was when we first moved to California in 2013. Five years is the longest either of us has lived in one town since high school. We’ve had many good times along with many sad times. We created our first home together. I found a job I loved in a global retail industry and then moved onto taking CBL full-time, which was something I hadn’t even known was possible when I started blogging 100 years ago. Christian became a specialized head and neck surgeon and decided to do another year of training (we definitely did not plan on that when we moved here).
We also experienced loss and sadness, but these times offered opportunity for growth and life lessons.
I was so intimidated to move somewhere as big as Orange County. A few years later, I felt comfortable and confident in my new job, local industry, relationships, church, etc. It wasn’t easy uprooting our lives and moving across the country, but it led to some of the most exciting and FUN opportunities of my life thus far.
Just when I started really feeling like OC was home… we had to pack it up and start all over. It hasn’t been easy, and I didn’t expect it to be. But in order to achieve big things, you have to have the courage to step outside your comfort zone. You could stay in a bubble and feel safe, nothing bad can happen. Or you can choose to live a life filled with adventures and challenges, learning more about yourself and what you can handle and achieve in your life.
Even though I have been pretty blue the past week… I know that things will turn around and I’ll look back on this experience with nostalgia and pride because it will symbolize the courage we had to have to try. I’m not sure what I’ll learn from this experience just yet, but I know it’s there.
And that’s worth something.
I’d love to hear how you guys feel about stepping outside of your comfort zone or any quotes you love on this topic. So many of you have sent the most thoughtful and helpful emails and direct messages about transitioning to NorCal or moving/packing for your spouse. Shoutout the military wives who are the real heroes and have REALLY helped me keep things in perspective!
Thanks so much for reading and sharing – you guys truly are the best. Love you, mean it – XO –
PS – I wrote this post at my desk in front of a bay window, looking out at the city. I couldn’t help but wonder… is this a Carrie Bradshaw moment?
