Tuesday, August 3, 2010

the one less traveled by...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

(By Robert Frost via)

I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if I had chosen to stay in Georgia. Living with my decision to move to California is hard sometimes. I am homesick for my family and for the way of life I used to know. When I was in college, I assumed that I would be engaged by graduation, marry a military officer, and live my life as a military wife. I don't know why, but that was the mindset most of my friends had as well [part of the reason of going to college is to get your degree in MRS]. And they all ended up in that life. I am the only non-married one in my group, and the only one that took a different path.


Moving to Los Angeles for a boyfriend = stupid. I am now stuck in a job I don't necessarily like, not living up to my full potential. I have had to max out credit cards just to pay rent or put gas in my car. Is this what I really wanted when I told my parents that I wanted to "step out on my own?"


I have to think that moving to Los Angeles has taught me a lot of life lessons - that family is important and to not take for granted the 48 hours you get to spend with your mom and dad three times a year...that your friends will forget about you and the less you talk or connect with them, the more likely it is that you will be replaced...that "making it on your own" is a load of crap and that you need friends and family in your life to make you happy.


What good has come out of this path? I am most grateful for my relationship with C. If that is the reason I am here, then I know it was worth all of this. He is the absolute best thing to happen to me and when I think of this path I've taken, I now know it was in order to lead me to him. Cheesy? Yes. True? Definitely.


So sorry for this heavy post! I have a lot of things going on in my life that I am in constant worry over, but I have to believe it will all work out. While I might have said moving here for a boyfriend was stupid, it isn't something I regret. I chose this path, and I will never know how my life may have turned out if I had stayed in Georgia. I do wonder from time to time, but it isn't important. This is my life now, and I have to do my best to embrace where I am and enjoy this path I've taken. After all, we're only given one life so I want to make the most of it!

Have a happy Tuesday, friends!

(all photos except the last are from weheartit)

20 comments:

Southern Champagne Wishes said...

I wonder all the time about the choices I've made and what if I'd done this or that different. But every choice I've made good or bad has brought me to the place I am now. And I'm happy here.

And it looks like all of your choices brought you a great relationship and love. Everything else will work itself out.

Trish {Pink Preppy Lilly Lover} said...

You are so sweet and so brave, I'm glad you took a chance and went to Cali! No regrets, don't look back, only forward! Great things are happening now, and will continue to happen for you in the future, and you deserve every bit of it!

"Do one thing every day that scares you."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Love and hugs!! xoxoxo

MLD said...

To echo the comments before me, we ALL ask ourselves What If. Its just a part of life, but its having conviction in the decisions that we made and moving forward that sets our minds at ease. And honestly, I am jealous of you right about now with all this humidity we are dealing with back on the East Coast! ;)

DSS said...

I hear you my friend! I took a much different route than I thought I would. I am also the "only one" in my group of friends. But I can't help but thinking...maybe being different is better somehow? I guess we will just have to see how the story plays out...

Jenni said...

You should look into local book clubs or yoga classes. Something to get out out of your routine and meet new people. My sister moved for her now husband and hated it for 4 years...now she's in a book club and takes dance classes and loves it! She's met so many people and is building roots there!
PS-dont forget to enter my giveaway! http://jenni-helloworld.blogspot.com/2010/07/giveaway.html

Preppy Girl Meets World said...

I've been having a lot of doubts lately as well so thank you for posting this. It's made me feel a little better. :)

BroncoMom said...

Aah Ms. Sweet Tea!

Good idea to focus on the NOW and not look back on the past. The future is just around the corner and it is smiling on you!!
Have a super rest of the day.

BroncoMom

Muffy said...

Everything will work out darling! I promise! You will find happiness and be so glad things worked out the way they did!

Day Old News said...

I miss my family too and they are just in SF. But I love this city and am happy I made the move, Even though it meant leaving behind my family and best friends.

Unknown said...

Oh, no...it seems like all of my bloggy friends are going through a rough patch right now. :(

I often times look back and wonder. But, like you, I live with no regrets. Things happen for a reason (even if they don't seem to make any sense sometimes).

Kate said...

I honestly thought there was going to be a photo of me in the "good that has come out of this path" section. ok I'm just kidding BUT I am so glad you took the path you took because I love being your friend! PS-I sent your package today. Let me know when it arrives. I don't remember what I wrote.

Susannah said...

I hope everything is working out for you! :D I got your sweet cookie message today-next time I will try your way. I wish you still lived in GA so we could hang out though-Mall of GA-ha!

Rachel said...

How sweet! And how refreshing to hear someone else with this feeling of amazement to where we have ended up!! Too cute!

Lindsay said...

EVERYONE wonders about the choices they've made and the paths they've taken... I, like you, am one of the only ones left of my friends who didn't meet their Mr. Right in college and I struggle about my next steps...whatever they may be!

Mrs. Jansson said...

I know exactly where you're coming from! I moved from Tennessee to Seattle the day after I married my husband (who's from Seattle). Life out west is so different - people dress different, talk different, eat different foods, etc. Oftentimes you can feel isolated and end up missing all that is familiar back home. Know that everything happens for a reason and that it's all part of a larger plan. You are meant to be where you are. Yes, things will be tough, you'll get homesick, and you'll occasionally pull out your bag of "what ifs" but keep in mind that we are never given more than we can handle! In my book, that makes folks like us pretty dang tough! :)

nomo wino daph said...

Oh my sweet friend-
I will say a prayer for you tonight for you! I tell you this, I always pray {for what I want, lol and then...} that if it's not HIS will, then I don't want it! I truly believe tha everything happens for a reason. I pray that you get to see your family soon/more.

xxooxxoo

ps-I fixed the link issue, thanks for telling me!

Danielle Moss said...

I know how scary it is to pick up and move across the country. Sure, I've only been in Chicago for 3 days but I do get it. The thing is, this wasn't just about making it on your own. It is about being on your own, discovering what matters, and finding yourself.

I do believe that in the end you are a stronger person for taking this path. And, you forgot one very important thing...

You met ME! HA. But really, I am so glad I know you. And in case you forgot, you have an open invite to come to Chicago any time!

I miss you!

Love,

Danielle

Anonymous said...

Life can be so scary sometimes! I've made so many mistakes in the past, but I know that if I stop making mistakes, I will stop learning. I get scared to do anything that I'm unsure of, but sometimes, it just has to be done, to move forward in life, and to grow. Stay strong girl!

Lucky in Love said...

Isn't life funny? I remember when I moved out here to be with Matt...and he assured me this would never be our home. We never wanted that. And now we've bought a house...and are having a baby, and this will be the only home he or she knows. So weird.

But I think of the friends we've made that we would've never met, our wonderful church we've found, and the opportunity we've had to live just the two of us in a place for so long and I remember to be grateful.

I hope it gets easier for you out there. I know how much you miss your family...but maybe you'll be able to go home someday!?!

The Ramblings of a Thirtysomething Wife said...

I've always been a big believer that everything happens for a reason. You may not know the reason now (is it C? A job opportunity that may present itself?). It's hard to sometimes know what the reason is.

I am jealous of you making such a life-changing decision. I have always, always wanted to move out of state or overseas, and, outside of 4 months spent in Orlando, FL, I have never lived anywhere else other than my midwest state. I had many years of being single when I could've made this choice, but I didn't. I stayed here. Luckily, I met a wonderful man and we married 1.5 years ago. However, I still talk about moving out of state with him. Now that we are older and getting ready to start a family, I don't know if we'll ever want to be that far away from our families.

 
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