Embracing Change

Change is hard. Change is scary. Change is necessary.

Yes, necessary.

While there are many who thrive on constant change, some of us are more comfortable with set routines and expected outcomes. The reality is though, that life doesn't always work the way we expect it. Nothing is set in stone and anything can happen at any given moment that will disrupt your way of life and take you in a different direction whether you like it or not.

It is up to us to embrace it or let it consume us.

"Life is no straight and easy corridor along which we travel free and unhampered, but a maze of passages, through which we must seek our way, lost and confused, now and again checked in a blind alley."  A. J. Cronin

I was never very fond of change. Until I desperately felt the need for it.

Our lives were pretty awesome living in New York. I came to live with my mom at the age of fourteen. In High School, I met my only two lifelong friends, who now feel like family. New York is where I met my now husband, had our children, graduated college and lived a very comfortable life for many years. We were full of hopes, dreams and energy to tackle anything that life threw at us.

Until, the real estate market crashed, jobs were lost, dreams became almost impossible to attain and we became tired.

The New York life rush was getting the best of us. We had become robots always rushing against the clock pushing through trying to make opportunities happened only to end up mentally and physically exhausted. I literally felt like a hamster running on a wheel with nowhere to go.

It was suffocating. I desperately started wishing for a way out. We. I needed a change.

And the universe responded in a big way and faster than I could have ever imagined.

"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Suddenly and practically out of nowhere, in the middle of Spring of last year, my husband was being offered a new job opportunity in South Florida. This was the sign the universe was giving us. The answer to my prayer.

Without hesitation, we followed it. No doubts. No overthinking.

Before we knew it, I had left my marketing job at a respected accounting firm in New York City and two days after the school year ended the kids and I were boarding a plane to come meet my husband at our new home. We arrived with no expectations or security for the future. Only with a heart full of dreams and hopes. The same dreams and hopes that only a few months before had felt nearly impossible.

Yes, it was a big change. One that required us to leave behind everything we had and everyone we knew. Our home, our school, our jobs, our family, friends and neighbors. Everything and everyone we hold very dear to our hearts, were left behind to go somewhere new and follow our dreams for a better, healthier, happier future.

It has now been six months since our big move. We have already experienced a number of new changes here. Some not so great. Others absolutely amazing! But all completely vital for our growth in this new journey, life has put in place for us.

I have not, for even a moment, regretted our decision to follow the signs that brought us here. I now feel free, relaxed. I no longer feel tired and that suffocating feeling in my chest has completely disappeared. For that, I am absolutely grateful.

Change is good. Change is freeing. Change is necessary.

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This blog post is a little bit different. It’s not what your are used to getting when you come to this blog. This blog post is not about food, and it does not include a recipe. This post is a little more personal.

This year, I am making real changes in my life and those changes will be reflected on this blog. I am on a journey to find out what it is that I am passionate about and my life’s purpose.

Moving forward and in addition to those yummy recipes you all come here for, I will be sharing more stories of life, love, encouragement, strength and empowerment.

My only wish is that this blog can be useful, helpful and encouraging to other independent hardworking moms who, like myself, are in this continuous search for work-life balance.