Living in a small town has been a blessing. Every beautiful smile you encounter is a familiar face, and almost everyone is family. There is nothing more incredible than seeing your community show up for each other. I never thought I would actually leave my home, even though I would always say as a little girl that there is a whole world out there in need of what all of us have to offer. I couldn’t fathom the idea of actually leaving home and all of the good old days behind. Still, here I am, making every day count gratefully. Although it hasn’t been easy, it has been worth it. Here are some things I learned when starting a new chapter.
A Home Can Be More than One Place
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
How to Use a Dishwasher
Yes, I learned how to use a dishwasher. I grew up in a household where we did not have a dishwasher, and quite frankly, I know that even if we did own a dishwasher, my family would probably use it for storage. Even to this day, I’m still adjusting.
New Habits
Balancing Time & Money
Setting priorities straight and making time for what truly matters will only help you be better. It’s important to remember to have a self-care day; managing things on your own can get heavy. I still don’t know what I’m doing most of the time, but one thing for sure is I make sure I distress by doing simple things like watching the sunsets and remembering that every day is a new learning day. Saving 10% percent of your income truly helps you save and budget yourself, as living alone is not cheap at all. Making a grocery list is also helpful as you focus on the list to avoid adding random things and staying within budget!
Always Learning
Living alone can feel scary before it gets better, as learning new habits and managing is not a piece of cake. It’s important to know you are not alone; even if it feels like you are. Most people can relate to the difficulties of managing work, paying bills, and most importantly, school. Many of us seem like we have it together, but most of the time we take it day by day. Please don’t beat yourself up because, in reality, who has their life completely figured out?
Believe in Yourself
Never Forget Where You Came From
My 20s have been so eye-opening, I never thought the days I would plan for when I was younger are the days I am now. Chasing after my goals, trying to finish school, and meeting the sweetest people on earth are all a part of my journey. There is never a day I don’t think of home and the people in it. I’m so grateful of my roots and community. made I don’t know where life will take me, but one thing is for sure, there is a whole world out there and without the love and support from my family and friends, I wouldn’t be here. I learned that I am capable of creating the life I want even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
Plants Make Everything Better
It Will Ultimately Be Okay
Deciding to leave home is hard, but at the end of the day, everything you go through will help you create the life you want and show you that life has so much more in store for you. Starting a new chapter never feels easy, but you learn more and more from yourself when you give yourself the chance to make change.