WHY
I will start of by saying that I am by no means trying to "run away" from my Minnesota life by moving to Nashville. I love by life, my job, my home, my living situation, my friends, and family back in Minnesota.
That said, moving to Nashville is something that has been on my mind for a long time. I was never very serious about it until April of this year when the idea came to me.
As of this past spring, I was (1) working a part time job that I loved but that I felt I was outgrowing and could easily get back if I left and later returned to Minnesota, (2) living at home where I didn't have to pay rent and was always welcome but also didn't feel I was gaining some of the adulting skills my friends who lived away from home were gaining as young adults--skills like renting an apartment and even working full time, and (3) I was not dating or in a relationship.
In other words, if I wanted to do a "young twenties" adventure that could involve moving someplace out of state or someplace exotic, doing a year of missionary work, traveling..... now was the time.
My situation was ideal: (1) I could easily leave and come back to my job, (2) I didn't have to worry about ending a lease in Minnesota in order to move, (3) I was assured I was welcome back should I decide to move back home in the future, (4) I wasn't leave a significant other or uprooting a family, as I hadn't reached that stage in life yet, and (5) for the first time in YEARS, my mental health in a stable enough state for me to move away from home and gain skills in independence.
There had to be a reason I wasn't in a relationship or married like a number of my friends from college. I figured God had a reason and a plan for my being in such a flexible situation. My situation was comfortable and ideal but also stagnant. I was finally in such a healthy place and ready to grow in new ways, but what was the next step?
My thought: If God has situated me just so at this point in my life...
Maybe God was calling me to take a leap of faith and do something crazy.
So moving out of state it is, and to nowhere else than the place that has been my dream city since I was sixteen. :)
WHAT
So I've sort of explained why I moved here: to gain some adulting skills and go on an adventure. Now as to "what" my plan is while I'm here...
I got a child care job, so I'm planning on doing that. I love working with kids, and I need to pay the bills. I have a lovely apartment with a beautiful apartment-mate. It's actually a two bedroom two bathroom and quite affordable, so I'm super lucky. All HARDWOOD floors and a beautiful view.
How long am I planning on staying in Nashville? My original thought was I would try one or two years and then decide if I want to stay down here longterm. I'm currently thinking I will only make this a school year-long excursion. I will have my adventure, learn new things, and build new friendships and connections, but ultimately moving here has also made me realize how much I LOVE my home and take for granted back home (good roads, amazing produce, stellar friends, and incredible family).
With this in mind, I have NO REGRETS in moving to Nashville, and two weeks in I am already learning so much about my self, my values, what matters to me, and about how to stand up for myself and advocate for myself.
And that is my goal. Simple as that. To grow as a human. This move has already become worthwhile in the things I've learned that I may not have learned any other way. Do I plan to stay here longterm? No, that's not the plan. Home is home. But I'm so blessed and am learning and experiencing new things, and this blog is where you will get to go on this journey of growth with me! Welcome :)
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