One year ago I was in Manhattan with Susan Hyatt and the crew from the BARE NYC retreat. I was a BARE client at the time. I knew I wanted to get certified in the BARE coaching method, because I wanted to help people the way it helped me. It truly was a life changing experience....in more ways than one.
We were heading back to the hotel after dinner, chatting among ourselves in the Uber, when the topic of Georgia came up. I had mentioned that Garret traveled to the Atlanta area regularly for work. In total jest, I said something along the lines of "I'm waiting for the day his company asks us to relocate there." I was being funny, or so I thought. This had never been a thought, let alone a topic of conversation. I chuckled at the idea and we carried on.
Garret and the kids met me in NYC when the retreat was over. We toured our old stomping grounds north of the city. We used to live outside of Poughkeepsie, in the Hudson Valley area. We showed the kids our old neighborhood, and the house where Rebecca came home when she was born. I don't know how to describe it, but I started to feel this longing to explore. I started to wonder "what if" we moved away again. What adventures could be in store for us?
We returned home to Buffalo, and Garret left the following week for his monthly trip to Alpharetta, GA. He called one afternoon to check in. When I answered the phone he said "you better be careful what you wish for". I knew what he was about to tell me. His company asked us to relocate. He was offered an incredible opportunity. We had a very big decision to make.
Initially, I totally panicked. I ran to the kitchen and almost dove into a 6 pack of Hershey bars. I stopped myself. Those Hershey bars didn't have the answer. Thank goodness for the BARE tools! My thoughts of exploration and adventure turned to overwhelm and fear. I couldn't believe it. I flashed back to that conversation in the Uber. How was this really happening?
That was last July.
We made the best decision for our family, and Garret's career.
We put our house on the market and received 3 offers within 2 weeks.
Everything happened so fast, I think my head is still spinning.
And so, here we are. One year later we are living in a new state, in a different part of the country. We're on our very own adventure. Did it all stem from that conversation in an Uber? You know I don't believe in coincidences.
Some days are hard, and I get very sad. I miss my home in Buffalo. I miss my family. I let the waves come in. I'm learning to ride them. Other days it feels incredibly exciting, and I can't wait to see where this road leads us.
We're in Buffalo this week, visiting for the first time since we left. It feels so good to be back. It's a familiar, and it's comfortable. But, I'm starting to realize something. Home is not a place on the map. Home is within me. It is in my heart, and I'm always here.