Readers have been asking about my references to leaving Texas, and since I promised to make the blog more personal anyway, it’d probably be good to elaborate. If you’re only interested in recipes, feel free to skip this post; the recipes will continue soon.
I’ve always been a passionate person.
This can either be a good or bad thing, depending on the situation. From the moment I decide to do something, I will throw all of my energy into it, can’t be talked out of it by anyone (including myself), and stubbornly refuse to give up until I’m successful. Or until I’m dragged away, kicking and screaming.
(My apologies to anyone who knew me as a two-year-old and witnessed one of my epic temper tantrums.)
In terms of the blog, this passion could mean baking seventeen batches of brownies in the span of two days to perfect the recipe… it could mean staying up until 3 am writing and editing a post I’m dead-set on publishing the next morning… it could mean reading through an entire computer self-help volume in a night to figure out how to implement one piece of coding… All real examples of things I’ve done.
And in my non-blog life, this passion manifests itself in the risks I take, some of which people would consider to be crazy.
Like when I quit college to write a food blog…
In mid-October I decided that I wanted to was going to move to New York City, and I was going to do it before the month was over. So after planning everything down to the minutia, I packed my belongings into the car and commenced the long drive, pausing only for what was supposed to be a short detour to stay with cousins I’d promised to visit, directly along the way.
However, life decided it had a better idea than mine.
The morning I was scheduled to finish the trip, I woke up with a 102-degree fever; only the third time I’ve been sick in fourteen years. No big deal… I called my sister in New York (at whose apartment I’d planned to stay while looking for my own place) and told her to expect me the next weekend instead. Friday night before the next weekend: little sister calls me this time, saying she’s dealing with a gas leak at the apartment and could I please stay where I am for the moment? And then an unseasonably-early ice storm hit, rendering the roads un-drivable.
Meanwhile I found myself developing close relationships with some amazing people around me. Every day was a new adventure–from a Washington, D.C. socialite gala to a Rob Zombie concert, and everything in between. I was experiencing life in a way I’d never experienced it before, and it made me wonder…
Once I got it in my mind to stay?
Of course there was no talking me out of that decision either.
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Congratulations & mazel tov! Wherever you live, may your passions continue to grow and flourish!
I just firmed up my very first home-ownership (condo) deal this week, myself, so I will be taking the leap from lifelong renter to homeowner, which is ridiculously scary and expensive beyond anything I’ve ever seen before, and oddly comforting and exhilarating. As I move from my tiny cube of an apartment to my 2-bedroom place downtown, I may swap the soccer ball idea for my hula hoops and use one of the rooms as a dance-my-ass-off-to-let-go-of-anxiety room, since I’m so not used to having extra space. 🙂
Great news, congratulations again!
Congrats on moving to D.C. I spent a lot of my childhood there and loved it, especially the museums and rich history. The most recent risk I took in my life was to accept a job working from home, writing recipes and informational articles for a food and nutrition website! It has been such a blessing for me as I have health issues that making working in a traditional office or workplace difficult. This risk has turned out to be one well worth taking!
I love living outside DC and it is amazing that almost all the museums are free. My favorite is the Natural History Museum (especially the hall with gems and jewels). Make sure to walk along the tidal basin in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, it’s absolutely beautiful 🙂 enjoy the city and all the adventures it presents 🙂
When I was a kid living in northern VA, one of my friends was a girl scout and invited my sister and I to go on an overnight stay at the National History Museum with her troop. So we basically had a huge slumber party in the museum. It was so awesome! I don’t know if the museum still allows these type of activities, but it is one of my favorite childhood memories.
Go girl! Give it all you’ve got, embrace every moment… and just know that you can return ‘home’ whenever you want! My biggest risk was quitting my job this time last year and having no new job to go to… In the last 12 months I have forged new friendships, built my own vegan fitness food business and collaborated with other companies I admire, and now i’m writing my first ebook and am presenting my first seminar in 3 weeks time….. none of that would ever have happened without a little leap of faith. xx
You look so beautiful and vibrant and happy in this post! I am so glad to see you loving your life despite so many changes!
Awesome post! (Although I read it to mean you were staying in Texas…now I am confused!) You look AHHHHHMAZING though and I love the ball/furniture spin!
Katie
You are gorgeous!!!! And the coolest vegan ever!
Merry Christmas!!
Dude, that is amazing! I envy your sense of adventure. Until now, the most adventurous thing I’ve done is get a half-sleeve tattoo… that I’d been wanting/planning for six years, hah.
I am planning something even more adventurous in the future, though: I’m going back to school to become What I Want To Be When I Grow Up. Next August, I’m quitting my job and starting school. It’s eight months away and I’m already freaking out!! Hahaha, guess I’ll never be accused of being impulsive.
Anyway, good luck on your new adventure!!
Great question… Maybe mine would be putting more time into a new hobby (making jewelry) and visiting places I’ve been thinking about, Sedona and the Grand Canyon.
But in terms of life changes that have longer effects, taking a risk is tricky. I feel like if you are always prepared mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, risks are more exhilarating than nauseating. I need to work on always being prepared (on some level… or is that just an excuse?).
Thanks for sharing this story! Oh and for your life-changing recipes 🙂
Great story, thank you for sharing your new journey! You should make it over to Cake Love!