Up, Up and Away

Shortly after I made the move to Sin City

A year ago today, I boarded a flight to Las Vegas from Kansas City to start my new life.  It was, by far, the scariest thing I had ever done.  It felt surreal.  As my parents drove me to the airport and walked with me inside the terminal, I couldn’t believe what was about to happen.  We sat outside the gate until the last possible moment.  Then, I slowly got up, burst into tears, hugged them both and walked through the doors with tears still streaming down my face.  I boarded the plane feeling like I was experiencing an out-of-body moment.  The flight seemed like the longest three hours of my life.  I was anxious and scared, but I just wanted to get to Vegas as soon as possible to get settled and make it all seem more real…which I’m not has sure has fully happened to this day.  I remember lugging my two huge suitcases to the taxi line and getting in the taxi.  The driver asked me, “Are you from here or just visiting?”  As strange as it was to hear myself say it, I replied, “I live here.”   As scary as that day was, I always knew that I was doing the right thing.  On the plane I wrote in my journal, “I have full faith that I’m where I’m supposed to be, but it’s scary. The unknown is scary, but everything will work out.  I just want to be happy. I’m anxious to see what awaits me in Sin City.”

It’s crazy to look back and see how much my life has changed since that day.  My surroundings have changed, my day to day life has changed, my friends and relationships have changed, my comforts have changed and even I have changed.  Do I regret that drastic move?  Never.  It’s become the best decision that I ever made.

In all honesty, I’m really proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished and learned his past year.  I know I still have a lot to learn and haven’t begun to realize all I am capable of, but for the year I’ve been here, I’ve done a lot.

The first few months here in Vegas, I was really unhappy.  I was having a hard time fitting in and finding where I belonged.  I missed my family and the comforts that I had in Kansas City.  I allowed myself to wallow in self-pity instead of changing it, because I was afraid of stepping outside of my comfort zone to make a difference in my life.  When I finally got over myself, took a step back, humbled myself and really looked at my life and where I was, that’s when things changed.  I made moves that needed to happen and I put my life in better order.  THAT’S when I finally became happy and THAT’S when my life here in Vegas started falling into place.  I can honestly say now that I am so happy here in Vegas.  I have great friends and supportive people around me, who I know will always be there for me. I have jobs that I love, a roof over my head, a car to drive and food in my fridge. I’ve been incredibly blessed.

I’ve learned a lot (you can read about some of those lessons in my last post.)  I’ve grown a ton and I feel like the same person, but a better version of me.  Every year around January 1^st, I always think about how awesome my year has been and never expect the next one to top the last, but it always does. If this first year in Vegas is any indication of what my next year will be, I better buckle up and hold on! This hot air balloon's fire is still burning and the basket’s going higher and higher. If I just keep finding my courage, following my heart and using the lessons I’ve learned… I know It’s gonna be an awesome ride!

XOXO,
Dorothy in Sin City