Long Overdue Update

This will be my last post in this blog. Because, well, I'm no longer a Philadelphian. So, for all of my PA followers wondering where the hell I disappeared to and why and so and so forth, here ya go.
I moved back home in September. I don't regret anything. I'm very happy being home but I'm super blessed for my time in Philly because I realized a lot of things.

1) I was feeling really restless in VA, I loved my life, my job, and my friends here, but for some reason I felt unsettled knowing that I'd never left. Leaving helped me realize just what is important to me. My family is a big deal to me. Being close by to them is something I took for granted until I was more than just a spontaneous hour long trip away.

2) My job and paycheck does not define me. My hobbies define me. I will never be able to make a living off the things I love doing: making people laugh, drinking beers with friends, playing sports, writing songs, cooking, playing guitar, reading Jane Austen novels, watching Dexter. But as long as I make a point to DO these things outside of 9a-5p, then I will always be happy. I wasted a lot of my free time trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a living that would make me happy, which in turn meant I wasn't doing the things that inevitably made me feel fulfilled in life. So, yeah, I know now that I could work the shittiest job in the world from 9a-5p as long as my evenings and weekends are spent doing the things I love and not spent worrying about the future. The future will figure itself out, it always has, it always will.

3) I loved the public transportation aspect of city living, but nothing beats that small town feeling of going somewhere and running into familiar and friendly faces.

4) I got my love for reading back. And sometimes, there's just no better evening then one quietly spent on the couch with some earl grey and a good book.

5) I really like my independence and feeling self sufficient. I don't know why, but I like the feeling of looking around and thinking, I worked hard and saved hard for this. I don't like handouts or expensive gifts. There's nothing you can tell me with your wallet that you can't say for free with your mouth. Maybe it's a pride thing, but I like to think it's an anti-shallow thing. Or maybe I'm just cheap.

6) I like to feel appreciated. (who doesn't?) It felt good to come home and see old friends and coworkers that were glad to see me back. You don't really get that feeling in a big city. Sometimes its just good to hear a simple "thanks". Not that it's frequently necessary, but if you ever find yourself wondering "what's the point?" It might be because you haven't heard a thank you in a long time.

7) I love football. I really learned the game while in Philly, not just the basics. I can spot holding penalties and call challenge outcomes impressively for an estrogen harborer. And yes, I refer to my favorite players by their first name. What up?!

I think I'll leave it at lucky 7. I could keep going. Just know that I'm home, I'm happy, and I know I could go anywhere if the time ever came, and take these lessons with me. Oh wait no, there is one huge lesson I'm leaving out.
On my 24th birthday card from my mom she wrote this simple yet profound statement. "You have the power to create your own happiness. It's just a matter of choosing how you look at things."
And then it went on to say more great mom-insights that seem to be exactly what you need to hear at the time. Did I mention how important my family is to me???
Life's too short to choose to be unhappy. Philly wasn't going well, I stayed there as long as I did because I didn't want to feel like I failed. I had a choice, I could stay there and be miserable but keep my pride, or I could move back, admit defeat, but smile more. I will always choose happiness.

That's it for this blog. I hope you enjoyed it.