Loving life

I was sitting on my balcony reading a book and I realized just how content I am in this moment. I look up from my book and see gorgeous blue birds flying around, bluebonnets growing wild, its a peaceful view. I am truly happy and in a very good place in my life right now, which is amazing to me considering that a year ago to the date my life was a mess, and I didn't know what I was going to do.

We'd moved in with my parents in an effort to save some money, however things just weren't working out that way. After almost a year there I was at my wits end, not to mention that the cramped quarters were starting to get to all of us. I felt suffocated, and with Joe working long hard hours as a demolitions foreman, I also felt that most of the child rearing and indeed other responsibilities were left to me. Tension kept mounting and it was tearing at the very fabric of my relationship, of my little family. I knew something had to be done, and that it had to be done fast or I would be trapped in an endless rat race of working simply to pay off bills. Of living to work instead of working to live.

I knew the answer was that we needed a fresh start somewhere new, a new state with new possibilities. When I settled on Austin Tx and began preparations to move, a lot of people told me I was crazy to go some place where I didn't know anyone, and didn't even have a job yet. But I knew, I knew this was my opportunity knocking, and I was ready to fling open that door.  Yes, I was nervous but mostly determined, and I knew we could do this. In fact we HAD to do this, for Gabe, and with that motivation there was no way we could fail.

Once we got to Texas Joe was able to find work right away. I applied for and was accepted to work at an amazing company, which allows me to work from home and still take care of Gabe. This position didn't just land in my lap, I went after it vigorously, and when I was interviewed I put my all into the answers and explained just why they would need to hire me. All my hard work and belief in myself paid off and now I had the job of my dreams.

With both Joe and I working, and no child care expenses since I am at home,  life became a little easier. There are also significantly less bills which means less stress for us, as a result we are more relaxed. We were able to start spending a lot of quality time out as a family, and to really start concentrating on enjoying life, and building something wonderful here.


Now nine months later I sit on my balcony counting my blessings. I followed my dreams, I followed my heart and because of that, and the hard work we've put into it, we've built a great life here. None of this would have been possible if I'd given in to fear and stayed in NY, I shudder at the thought. I love my life now, and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm always telling people now to follow their dreams, to really go balls to wall for them, because you know what?  They really do happen. I went from nothing in NYC to a great life in Texas in less than a year, all on hard work and sheer determination. Our life is so different now and we are living our dream.

So I just want to tell all of you out there, whatever your dream is, stop thinking about it and just do it. The only person stopping you from living your dream is YOU, get off your ass, stop the bullshit, and go for what you want. We live the life we want to live, I get that now.

I'm not done either, I have big dreams for Texas and I'm working towards them every single day. I realize now if I'm not doing something to forward my goals every day, then it's a wasted day. I'm working hard towards something big here and I can't wait to see where I'll be in another nine months. The sky really is the limit.