New beginnings.

I have often received the questions: "Where are you from? Where are you going?"

With my roots in Pennsylvania, going to college in Richmond, VA, moving to Charlotte, NC for a year, and now ending up in Boulder, CO-I hesitate answering this question with a simple answer of an East Coaster. I am an East Coaster for sure, but does that really encompass who I am or who I have become?

As a youngin' growing up in Amish country Pennsylvania, I was a shy, but active and competitive person. Always wanting to be on the go and adventuring around, I would often get bored living in Chambersburg. When I graduated from high school, I vowed to never live there again-not because it was a horrible place, but it just wasn't exciting enough for me.

Going to college in a different state, void of familiarity, I was thrown out of my comfort zone, and forced to gain a new sense of outgoingness. Although my personality was in a state of change, I was set on fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. But as graduation drew near in May 2008, even my career goals had changed.

As I moved on to Charlotte last year, suddenly I was alone and on my own. I no longer had that college atmosphere, nor did I have the cross country and track teams to rely on for support. I was testing the waters of the life of a college cross country and track coach. Determined to meet people, I joined the Trysports racing team, where I quickly met Chris, Glenn, Caitlin, and Megan. I put forth twice as much effort as college, to go out of my way to form strong bonds with those in Charlotte, and it was well worth it. From the road trips and dinner with my boys, to the runs and the beach trips with the Charlotte Running Club members, I was content and happy: or was I?

I decided early to mid-spring that I wanted pick up my life again and fulfill a dream of moving to Colorado. What did I have to lose? I had figured out that the college coaching lifestyle just wasnt for me. I have always been a risk taker and one to try new things, so Colorado was not anything out of the ordinary. But as moving day from Charlotte grew near, I dreaded my decision more and more. I was content and felt like I had a family that I was leaving behind. Not until months later would I see just how much of a family I really had.

As Black Beauty (my car) reached the Colorado state border in early August, I was so excited to get my new life started all over again. This time, in Boulder. I quickly figured out that Boulder is not what I thought it would be. Filled with college students, and rich families, I felt like I was in the middle of a disaster of a decision. My first two months here, I hated it. I loved the outdoors and gained a new appreciation for being able to think on my own. I would sit, read, and stare at the mountains in all their beauty. But I was missing something. Something that has always been important to me: Friends. I tried everything from visiting five different running group to putting myself into different social settings. The frustration and homesickness began to set in. Why did I move here, why did I leave all that was familiar to me behind? I began to rely on friends back East for support, which helped, but in hindsight, what could they do? After the Charlotte Running Club, (Jay and Rebecca), raised $300 (in a beer mile!) to buy me a plane ticket to come back "home" to Charlotte, I was dead set on moving back. I couldnt believe the love and support the Charlotte Running Community had shown for me.

Not until I made the decision to move back to the South, did I realize what I was doing. Why would I want to run away from my dream state? I began to travel to Denver to meet up with running friends and slowly began to meet people down there. I have always considered myself a city girl even though I grew up in the country, so Denver almost began to feel more like home. So once again, I was in a state of indecisiveness and decided once and for all that I could accomplish what I want to accomplish here in the great state of Colorado, and I would enjoy it more by moving to Denver.

So in January 2010, I plan to pack it all up again and move just a short 40 minutes away to the Mile High City. In the past few weeks, I have gained a new appreciation for friends like Ashley, Jaime, and Heather. I wouldn't have met ski instructor Andy, who has inspired me to take chances and go break out of the box of life. I wouldn't have been moved up to a manager at the candy store, and I wouldnt have gone skiing for the first time in 10 years or bought all new ski new gear and season ski pass.

Which brings about a favorite quote of mine from the movie"Garden State":

"You know that point in your life when you realize that the house you grew up in isn’t really your home anymore…all of the sudden even though you have some place to put your shit, that idea of home is gone…or maybe it's like this rite of passage…you will never have that feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, for your kids, for the family you start. It’s like a cycle or something. Maybe that’s all family really is: a group of people that miss the same imaginary place."

Throughout the past 6 years of my life, I have been all over the place, wandering per se, but is that really a bad thing? I have formed "families" in all of the places I have lived and have really figured out who I am and what I want. I have a passion for the underprivileged and was talking with a friend, Lauren, the other day about possibly becoming a health promotions leader. I want to go back to school for my Masters degree and am confident that eventually I will get there. But I am in no hurry.

I was having a conversation with Andy the other day about how I feel like society places all of these ideals on how people should act or where they should be when they reach a certain age. I have had people in the past tell me, "Oh, you dont understand, you are too young" or "Once you are in your mid-20s you should act this way or get married at this age". I refuse and listen to this. Why can't we be our own person and live our lives to the fullest? I, for one, would rather take my time enjoying my life and figuring out what I want in it, rather than rushing it to fulfill societal norms.

So I am ready for these new beginnings in the great state of Colorado. I have the beginnings of a new "family" of friends, and a new city to call "home". I have fallen in love with the Rockies and am sure their beauty will never tire.

For now, I embrace the new and endlessly changing horizon called: Life.