Nearly seven years ago I left the area where I grew up (Upstate New York--waaay upstate) to move to southern Utah. I made the move with my husband, our cat (who passed away shortly after her arrival out west) and parrot after years of just not feeling right in my own skin. Although I had family ties there, I hated the winters. I refused to drive in winter and didn't care much for it the rest of the year either. I'd never been a confident driver. I didn't like to get out and about in the snow and ice; I don't ski or skate or snowboard. Winter was just a long, miserable season for me. When Jim got hurt in a fall (See, Flying Safety: Remember to Move!) it was bone chilling cold outside. Three feet of newly fallen soft snow around him and he had to land on the concrete walkway in front of our house. When he was discharged from the hospital we stayed with my mom on the family farm. The wind whips through there like crazy. One day when we got back from taking Jim for a check up, the car got stuck in the driveway and wouldn't budge. My mom helped Jim to the house about, say, 20 feet from the car. I stayed behind and waited for her to come back to help me inside. I stood hip-deep in snow (well, that's not that high--I'm only 4'8"--but it was bad enough) waiting for her to come back and help me. I could feel my face freezing. The wind was blowing so hard, I nearly fell over. Right then and there I told myself I was getting the heck out of snow country. Somehow, some way, I'd leave this place I'd called home for most of my life.
It was too limiting. I was afraid to walk around in the snow and ice since my balance wasn't the greatest. I'd taken more tumbles than I could count. Luckily I hadn't gotten badly hurt, but as I got older, I feared that I'd start breaking bones. But it wasn't just the snow. Every other season of the year bothered me as well. Bug season, mud season, sticky yucky humid summer season. I got literally ill each summer from the humidity. I also have rosacea which hated the climate in New York. Wind, rain, frosty air, humidity--it didn't matter. My skin was generally unhappy. I couldn't take it anymore.
I had always been close to my mom, and there was a time when I thought I'd never leave. She protected me--admittedly probably too much, but I couldn't fault her for caring. I'd spent my life dealing with spina bifida, balance issues, self-esteem issues, surgeries, shyness, and dependence. But it was time to grow up--way past time to do so, in fact. My insides were telling me to leave. I needed a change, big time.
After quite a bit of research, we ended up in southern Utah. I'd never lived that far from where I grew up, but I was ready. The minute I set foot in southern Utah, I felt at home. I felt safe. I absolutely loved the beautiful desert landscape, the warm tempertures, and sunshine. Yes, it was hot, but it was dry. That made all the difference. I loved it!
There were cultural differences, for sure, but we've met some of the nicest people here. Feeling safe was so important.
The first order of business was to get used to driving in the city. It's not a huge city, but it's much bigger than I'd ever driven in. At least I didn't have to worry about driving in snow. That was a significant perk. Jim gave me lessons, mostly on quiet Sunday mornings when the city streets were deserted, and slowly I learned to feel fairly comfortable driving. That was such a rush! Back in New York, I'd had either my mom or my husband drive me most places even in small towns, and here I was in a city of about 70,000 people, driving all over town.
The next order of business was getting into shape. I was pushing 50 at the time and feeling blah. Overweight, not obese. But still, I didn't feel good. I didn't have a lot of energy. I found out that there was a gym right down the street from our apartment and it was affordable. I'd imagined gyms being really expensive, so when I found out otherwise, I had my mind set on joining.
I felt weird going for my first meeting at the gym, but it was one of the best decisions I made. The staff and trainers were supportive, upbeat, and welcoming. The place was energizing and I got in the best shape of my life. I'd never have joined a gym in New York.
Moving to Utah changed me for the better. I'm healthier, happier, have wonderful friends, and have gotten involved in community. Utah is home. So, yes, some people run away from their old lives only to find out that they are still the same on the inside and their problems have followed them. But, I can say that honestly didn't happen to me. I'm better on the inside and outside for making the move.
You have to go with your gut when making major decisions like this. Think it through. If you need to make a change, find a way to do it. If you're not happy with your weight, how you look or feel, your energy level, do what you have to to make the change to a healthier lifestyle. You don't necessarily need to make a big move like I (and my husband) did. Do what feels right. Think it out. Talk with your family. Review your options. Make the decision that works for you.
Here is a link to the Daughtry song that inspired this blog post. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEjfWhyz-qg
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