If you are thinking of taking a trip or moving cross-country, please know that it is not an easy ride, but there are many lessons you can learn about yourself along the way. Moving is a big decision in life and with change always comes hardship and perseverance. As long as you can stay focused on the goal at task, you can accomplish anything.
Travel Light: I moved from Georgia to California one year and then back to Georgia the following year. So I have made the cross-country drive two times and neither was easy. On the first trip out to California, I drove my truck with a trailer hooked up behind. This extra weight put a lot of wear and tear on my truck and it made going through the mountainous area extremely hard. I was so stressed out because I was literally going up the mountain at 45 miles per hour. It was pretty scary at times. So when moving back to Georgia, I made the conscious decision to get rid of all my stuff and pack whatever I could into my truck. I did not want to deal with the same situation that I faced the previous year. I also learned the importance of traveling light. My possessions do not define who I am because they are disposable. It was hard letting some of my personal paintings and all my furniture go, but I learned to live without all my things.
Go beyond the discomfort: During the first move out to California, I pushed myself really hard the first two days trying to drive thirteen to fifteen hour days. The third day was the hardest because my body was worn out and I was sick of driving and being stuck in a truck the majority of the day. I felt at times like I was going crazy. My anxiety was high because I can be a nervous driver. I was having mini breakdowns because I had to drive beyond my comfort zone. Before driving cross-country, the longest I had drove was about four hours. So going beyond the discomfort gave me wings to be able to drive across country the next year, which was a lot easier.
How strong I really am: I have taken a lot of risks and made a lot of moves, but I never really viewed myself as a strong person. Making my first drive through Texas, I thought to myself, I am a strong woman. I have accomplished a lot physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most women I know are too afraid to fly, but here I am driving from one side of the country to the next. I no longer cared that everyone back home called me crazy for making this big move; I knew I was following my heart.
To stand on my own two feet: I always thought I was Brenda’s daughter, Cody’s sister, the counselor, or the girl with the bright green eyes. But this move allowed me to embrace my true self. I really found who I am. I used to think I would find myself at the final destination, but I have learned that you really find who you are under extreme circumstances. I realized that I didn’t need a status or friends to define who I am. I know when I look deep inside myself, that I am an unwavering woman who can stand on her own.