#DecadeDump 10 years ago today, I had gotten tired of ppl in my home state of Washington asking me if I was from California, & after years of wondering “what if,” I finally made the move to CA.
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I was definitely in a bad way when I left WA. I wasn’t “out,” was working in an Evangelical org where I would have been fired if I was, and was trying to white knuckle it through another bleak Seattle winter. One day, something in me snapped. The pain of staying the same had outweighed the pain of growing. And even though it was a really dumb move on paper, I left a few months later in search of ☀️, and the opportunity to openly be my authentic self.
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Making the decision to move to a place where I didn’t know anyone, and didn’t have a job or permanent housing lined up was completely out of my comfort zone. I look back at that time now and marvel at how open I was to growth and change, in a way that makes me jealous today. Of course, I was also extremely vulnerable. My little gamble could have gone extremely wrong if it wasn’t for the love & hospitality of many people. I especially want to thank
@ms_cristina_maria and her family for taking me in with my two little suitcases and giving me a place to land in San Diego,
@revark for never charging me legendary Ca market rate rent while I was getting my feet under me, &
@chloe_cavelier for helping me get my first job in LA once I realized LA was my place, & to her family (
@l.cavelier ) for bringing me to Calif in the first place. There are too many others to picture or mention here, and today my heart overflows with gratitude for the many people who have brought me so much joy here.
☀️
It’s been far from perfect, but CA has been good to me, and I’m so grateful for my life here. When I decided to finally make that leap, I knew that it might not have worked, but I finally got to the place where I at least just had to KNOW. If you’re in that place with your own “California” (making that move, following that passion, claiming that love) I lovingly say to you that if you can’t get it out of your mind then you gotta take that risk.
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10 years later, I’m so grateful to say, with happy tears in my eyes
#CAwasagreatlifechoice 🥹
