This One Is Hard to Write

First of all, no I haven't forgotten what I am doing this year. I have just not been writing about it...sorry fam. In short, I finished the Bible and am now doing studies of each chapter individually, I have read an average of 11 books a month all year, I have tried something new every month, and I have given something new up every month. Some of it has been really cool and fun...and some of it has been really hard, but on the first of September, I had to say my hardest goodbye of the year...and that is what this blog is about. It is about all of the people that I love in North Carolina and how much I already miss them...and how thankful I am for their love and influence on my life.
A little over 3 years ago I packed up my car and left Texas. I was not sure what would be waiting for me in Raleigh and only knew two people in the whole city. I was only planning on taking one year off of graduate school, but shortly after arriving to the RDU area, I realized that I was probably not going back to Texas. I never expected it to happen, I never dreamed of living in North Carolina, but RDU instantly felt like home. For someone like me with a gypsy soul, it was pretty surprising. I don’t feel like I’ve arrived home very often. The only other place that has ever felt more like home was Auburn,  but something about Raleigh anchored my heart down for a little over 3 years. I made incredible friends that I absolutely adore over the last few years. The family that I left in Raleigh taught me what it means to love the community around me even when it is inconvenient. They gave me the space to allow them to know me. They’ve shown me how to let others love me...and how to love myself. They’ve challenged me, talked with me, laughed with me, and cried with me over the years. I’m not the same girl that moved here 3 years ago and I have this city and the people that live here to thank for that. For my friends and family that are not from the RDU area, I challenge you to surround yourself with people who love you well; people who will call you out and challenge your thought processes, while being willing to listen to you verbally process your life. I challenge you to make friends with people that look different than you do. Make friends with people old enough to be your parents…and then make friends with their children. Be available and willing to be in other people’s lives…be vulnerable with them and be honest with yourself. Allow yourself to continue to grown and never apologize for not being the same person you were 3 years ago, 3 months ago…or even 3 days ago…but don’t forget who you are in the midst of your growth. I will always love Raleigh, North Carolina and I will always love the people that I met during my time there whether they were coworkers, friends of my co-teachers, church friends, or gym friends.
Raleigh fam, thank you for being the people that I didn’t even know that I needed in my life. Some goodbyes are harder than others, and every single one that I had to say in Raleigh was even harder than I had imagined. They were harder than any other goodbyes I’ve ever had to do. I love you all to infinity and beyond. A million times over. Thank you for loving me....and allowing me to love double names, bows and Christmas year round. Thank you for allowing the coffee to sink in before talking to me in the gym at 5:45, but also asking me why I didn't show up at 5:45 if I wasn't there-I needed that accountability. Thank you for introducing me to your friends and your families. Thank you for letting me take your daughters to Ulta and watch your dogs when you were on vacation. Thank you for hard conversations and funny jokes. Thank you for making me watch Marvel movies and eat things besides Chipotle and cheese. Thank you for making fun of me, playing golf with me, and helping me move. Thank you for joining my little book club and reading books with me. Thank you for teaching with me. Thank you for the surprises and taco nights. Thank you for teaching me how capable I am of jumping on boxes and lifting heavy weight. Thank you for the Friday nights and the Saturday nights spent laughing. Thank you for the trips to the pumpkin patches and around to see Christmas lights. Thank you for teaching me about college basketball just in time to watch my team make history....and thank you for allowing me to love Auburn as much as I do. Just....thank you! I will miss you-all of you for a million different reasons for a million different days. Please come visit me any time!! But...your girl is moving back to the land of SEC football in Alabama and I am very excited about this next chapter!