Today’s tidbit: “Every day is a new beginning, a new adventure, renewed hope and a chance to make changes in your life, but you must let go of yesterday, its the past you can’t go back, all you can do is go forward, so forget about yesterday, embrace today and envision tomorrow.” — Rashida Rowe

Change can be good. Change can be scary. Change can be exciting. Change can be liberating. Change allows for growth and new experiences… But what happens when there are all of a sudden so many big changes happening all at once everywhere you turn? For me, I became overwhelmed by all the uncertainty and it seemed to control me.
2013 has been the year for changes!

I haven’t been posting as regularly, but there has certainly been a lot going on! I am finally coming to terms with everything and able to reflect and share more now. I will be doing a separate blog post on some of these points in the near future, but for now you can see just how many big changes have been going on! With all the bad changes, as I saw them, there were good changes going on to help balance (be sure to click read more below).

February: Parents divorce + Mom moves
March: John moves
April: Getting the house ready to sell
May: 6 year anniversary + John’s graduation + David’s graduation + House for sale
June: Left TGD + Started freelance + Mary Kay consultant + House under contract + Pamela’s wedding

A lot happened all at once, which made it hard to deal with at times, but I had no control over it. You can dwell on it or move on and get ready for what comes next! I am ready to embrace the changes to create a new lifestyle… after all, every challenge becomes an opportunity!

Be sure to click below to read more and check out more pictures. Enjoy!

February: Parents divorce + Mom moves 

1. After a long time coming my parents divorce, which was quite ugly, was final. I tried to play mediator and probably got myself involved too much. It was a really rough time for everyone involved.
2. Following the divorce, my mom moved the rest of her belonging to upstate NY, where her family is and where she’d been staying during the separation. Sorting everything, renting a U-Haul and loading the boxes as she sat on the front steps crying was an emotional day that I will never forget.

March: John moves

1. After almost 6 years of being in a long distance relationship, John finished his Masters and moved to Alexandria, ending our long distance relationship and starting a normal relationship. He has been my rock and support system through everything!

April: Getting the house ready to sell 

1. Following the divorce, our childhood home now had to be sold. This was a hard pill for me to swallow, growing up there since elementary school. I have had my own places, but I always had this house and sense of home to come back to. April was spent cleaning out childhood memories. The entire house was stripped from any personality and sense of home. I hardly recognize the inside. It is just a house now, ready for someone new to start creating memories.

May: 6 year anniversary + John’s graduation + David’s graduation + House for sale

1. In happier news, John and I celebrated our 6-year anniversary in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities.
2. John graduated from UVA with his Masters degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
3. The following weekend my brother David graduated with his Bachelors from the College of Business and Economics at Radford University.
4. Our childhood home was officially put on the market with realtors coming almost every day. It was a strange feeling seeing the house listed online. I know it has served its purpose (very well) and it is time to move on.

June: Left TGD + Started freelance + Mary Kay consultant + House under contract + Pamela’s wedding
June has certainly been another busy month and it’s not even over yet!

1. Mid May I decided to leave TGD, with June 1st making it official. Although the timing was a surprise, it was a mutual agreement to move on. I am looking for my next opportunity, hopefully on the west coast!
2. For now I’m working on freelance, including a 4-piece project for GMU that went to the printer this week.
   I also have a few other projects lining up, stay tuned.
3. I am now a Mary Kay consultant and am enjoying the events, networking and pampering friends.
4. The house is now under contract and I am currently helping my dad look for our next home in Maryland.
5. One of my best friends, Pamela (remember their beautiful engagement and shower?!) got married and I couldn’t be happier for them!

Phew, it’s been a busy few months! I have had time to now focus on what I saw as bad changes (the divorce, house for sale and leaving my job) to realize everything that is happening is setting me up for something bigger and better, I just have to have patience to figure out what it is. The changes are cutting all my connections here; making me even more determined to move out west!

In the meantime I have been able to start new projects and meet new people. I was able to dedicate more time to Pamela’s wedding. I am able to help Allie with her wedding, currently designing invitations and planning her shower.
I am able to go to NY this Monday for 8 days to spend time with my grandparents and Aunt, who have all had recent surgery and be there for them.

Not to mention, my dog Sammy is getting used to his hour long daily adventures and being outside most of the day.
I am finding more time for the gym and to be at the barn riding Bailey again.

Having fun in Old Town Alexandria by the water = tuckered out Sammy.

How can you not smile being greeted by this cute guy?

I am not looking at anything in a negative light any more, and instead realizing all of the new opportunities I have. As I said earlier a lot happened all at once, which made it hard to deal with at times, but I had no control over it. You can dwell on it or move on and get ready for what comes next! I am ready to embrace the changes to create a new lifestyle. After all, every challenge becomes an opportunity!

Have a wonderful weekend!