Five and a half years ago, I packed up the family mini-van and made the trek down to Portland to embark on my college journey. I had just turned 18 and quite frankly couldn’t wait to finally be out of my parent’s house. Up until this point I had lived in the same house in the same small town for my entire life. I thought I had my life all figured out and boy was I wrong! But my time has come to embark on a new journey; one that takes me away from Portland and off to new beginnings.
I have grown so much from who I was that summer day five years ago. Portland is where I fell in love. It is where I “decided” my major…and then changed it 3 more times. It is where I made lifelong friends and discovered the harsh after effects of drinking too much cheap vodka. It is where I fell back in love with running and discovered the wonderful world of veganism. It is where I learned to question everything, to challenge myself, and the beliefs that have shaped my life.
It’s difficult to put into words just how much has changed in my life these past few years. Portland taught me to “stay weird”. This city provided me with a community that believed in bettering this planet. It introduced me to the wonderful world of hipsters and overpriced coffee shops where I’ve spent far too much money. It is where I could be whoever I wanted to, free of judgement. It is where I learned to navigate “city life”. It is where I’ve spent countless hours running on trails, lost in my thoughts. Portland has been home to me for the past 5 years. It has allowed me to become the most authentic version of myself and to stop worrying so much about what other people think.
But these past few years I’ve had a gut feeling that my time in Portland was coming to an end. I no longer felt dazzled by the city life and found myself seeking a new adventure. Since graduating college a year and a half ago I have had a multitude of jobs and also discovered the path I want to go down. I knew that I was capable of living a life I loved; one that was in alignment with who I was at my core.
Call it serendipity, but discovering health coaching and enrolling in a program has opened up a whole new world of opportunity. I am reminded that I can create the life I want to live, no matter how outlandish is may seem to others. I realized I was no longer happy living in Portland so I’ve simply decided to change that.
In a few weeks I’ll be leaving Portland, moving away from this city that has shaped me into the woman I am today. I’ll be leaving incredible friends that have always supported me, and allowed me to grow. I’ll be moving back in with my parents for a few months (glamorous I know) and after that we’ll see what adventure awaits. Right now I feel called to pursue a career of health coaching and to live a life where I am fully self-employed and doing work that I absolutely love. I know it is NOT going to be easy but I can genuinely say that I am ready.
When I officially decided to leave Portland, I finally felt as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders. As uncertain as the future may be, I couldn’t help but feel giddy. I know in my heart, gut, intuition that this is exactly what I need to do. I’m ready to prioritize my business, start taking on clients, and start creating the life I desire. And this decision was so incredibly difficult because of the people I have met in Portland. As much as it pains me to leave I know that it isn’t a goodbye, but rather a goodbye for now. I believe that those you are closest to have a way of coming back into our lives in unexpected ways.
If you had asked me one year ago that THIS is what I would be doing, I would have thought you were out of your mind. But the older I get the more I realize just how unpredictable life is. As much as we can plan for the future, we never truly know where the wild ride of life will take us. I am grateful to have a boyfriend, family, and friends who are supporting me in this decision to chase after my dreams. I have such a multitude of ideas running through my head that I simply can’t wait to put into action.
So, I’d like to say THANK YOU. Thank you to the University, the friends I have met here, the mentors who have guided me, the professors who taught me, the countless jobs I’ve held, and to the city of Portland. Thank you for making me into the woman I am today, one who believes in herself and the business she will create.