When Griffin applied to medical school, there was always a chance we would have to move away from our “home”. I think there was a part of me that didn’t think it would actually happen! 

The months and weeks kept ticking down and we had to make a decision between moving to Iowa, Illinois, or West Virginia. Obviously, the biggest item on the ‘cons’ side of my list was moving away from my family. My mom, my nanny family, friends and my niece who was to be born days before we would have to move. Yes, there were things on the ‘pros’ list, like; having a new routine, meeting new people, having an exciting adventure with my partner in crime. This was the first time we had to make a decision for our future “family” (which at the time was Me, Griffin, and our 13 year old shih tzu, Cookie), and boy was it a big one! 

Change is messy, and can be lonely

Not having a career path in sight was among the laundry list of things that worried me about moving away. Also high up on the list was how lonely I was going to feel. Griffin would be making friends and meeting people through school, growing and learning every day. What if I was stuck, or stagnant? This was and still has been one of my biggest challenges.

I knew I was going to miss out on a lot moving away from my family and closest friends. I’m good at meeting new people, and enjoy doing it, but it definitely magnifies your loneliness when you don’t have that one go-to person. You know, the friend you can text last minute to grab coffee, or the one who just “gets you” without a lot of explanation. With Griffin being so busy in school, I quickly realized how much I missed having that kind of connection in my day to day life.

I’ve met wonderful people here, and some have turned into sweet friendships, but it’s not the same as the relationships I left back home. And that’s okay. Friendships take time to grow roots. Sometimes you connect with someone, but it doesn’t end up going deeper, and that can feel disappointing. Other times, you click right away, but life stages don’t line up. Maybe they’re already moms, or maybe they’re still in a very different season of life than I am. And if you’ve ever tried making friends as an adult, you know it’s not as simple as sitting next to someone at lunch like it was in school.

Loneliness doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it’s just part of change. I’m learning to give myself grace, to reach out when I need to, and to trust that community takes time to build.

Identity in transition

I have always considered myself pretty good with change, even with how difficult it can be. This move strengthened that in my mind. I’ve learned that I can navigate more than I thought I would be able to. 

Part of that has been realizing that just because I live in a new place doesn’t mean I’ve lost the connections that matter most. Staying in touch with my family and friends back home has continued to fill my cup, even if it looks a little different than before. FaceTime calls, text threads, and quick updates throughout the week remind me that those relationships are still a steady part of who I am.

I’ve also learned that discomfort isn’t always a bad thing. Growth often happens in those in-between seasons where you don’t have it all figured out. This move has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect, and it’s shown me that I can handle being uncomfortable and still move forward.

Another surprise gift in this transition has been discovering new parts of myself. I wasn’t sure what my career would look like outside of nannying, but leaning into strength coaching opened a door I didn’t even know was waiting for me. Building my skillset, helping women feel strong in their own bodies, and stepping into this role has been a huge piece of finding myself again in a new place.

Little joys matter 

It’s important to note that this whole moving thing hasn’t all been bad. This might sound silly, but one of the ways that I stay grounded and positive is seeking the things that are different about my surroundings than in Ohio. Whether that’s noticing the different styles of architecture in houses, different trends in landscaping, or even different brands offered at the grocery store; it’s kinda cool.

I find joy in talking to other people, and the move allowed me to stretch further than my hometown and talk to people who have lived here in Illinois their whole life, a short time, or somewhere in between. Finding commonalities in conversation just secures how small the world truly is. 

Hope looking forward

I have trusted and believed that I would find joy in this move, and I have! Despite the challenges that I still deal with on a regular basis, the daily life that I miss out on back home, and the uncertainty that lies ahead, I am still able to enjoy this journey. Change is rarely simple. It’s messy, emotional, and stretches you in ways you don’t expect. But it also brings new opportunities to grow, to discover more about who you are, and create a life to feel true to you. 

Yes, I miss home. Yes, I still feel lonely at times. But I’m also finding strength in new places, whether that’s in the friendships I’m building little by little, the work I’m passionate about, or even just the quiet confidence that I can do hard things.
This chapter isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about learning, showing up, and trusting that the small steps I take today will add up to something beautiful. And if you’re in a season of transition too, I hope you know you’re not alone—it’s okay to feel all the feelings and still keep moving forward.