What Moving to Oklahoma Has Taught Me
Today is Trevor's and my one year anniversary of moving to Oklahoma. Last year on this day, we were waking up in a hotel, in a town we had literally never seen before - except for, let's be honest, a lot of stalking on Google Earth. I looked out the window, seeing the smallest snapshot of our new town, and I thought how crazy it was that I lived here now. I had no idea what the rest of the town looked like, and I lived here. I had never seen my apartment.... but I lived here!!
We went to our apartment complex, signed the lease, saw our apartment for the first time, and hauled our belongings up the stairs with the help of Trevor's dad, while humidity and sweat stuck my thick hair to my neck and I hoped it wouldn't be this hot forever. I liked our apartment. I liked the size of it, I liked how much light was in the small bedroom and the white brick wall on one corner. Watson ran around, confirming in her puppy way that she liked it too. Thing thing is, though I didn't have a job, I knew no one in town, and I had no prospects. Trevor would start school in a few weeks, and I wondered how my life would unfold. Forty-eight hours ago I had lived in Idaho, surrounded by loved ones and familiarity. Now I lived in a place totally unknown.
I wish Past Meredith could have known this is one of the best decisions we have ever made, and despite getting homesick from time to time, I am having the time of my life here. Or maybe it's good she didn't fully know, because it has developed as a sweet surprise and rich gift in my life. Trevor and I were talking about it the other day, how we know that right now we are in the "good old days," and we will always remember this and talk about it. Because we really are in the good old days. Trevor is going to school full time, studying something he is fully passionate about. I have a great job, and time for creativity and seeing my family, and lots of time with Trevor. It's honestly been the best.
I have learned some important things that I may have known in an abstract way before, but now I know in a concrete way, real and tangible. When we move again, I may have to look back on these as a reminder for the goodness in store. As I reflect on one year here, I thought I'd share a few things that I've learned. Maybe you're about to embark on a big change - maybe these things can give you hope, too.
- There are friendships all over waiting to be made and good people are everywhere
- You have no idea what goodness is in store for you There are some pretty serious goodies coming your way in life, some surprises that you won't be expecting. For example, I honestly had no idea we would find such an amazing church community here. I love the church we are in, it feels so homey, and it's one of my favorite parts of living here. We attended it our first Sunday, and we haven't left since. I've also made wonderful friends and have a really great job working with awesome people. Goodness isn't just located and isolated in one place. It will be there waiting, everywhere.
- You realize who your friends for life are I already had a pretty good idea about who my friends for life would be, but you really know when you move. When you still feel close to someone very far away, you know you'll be close for life. Distance does not make you forget about people. I think about the people I love, most of who aren't living here, about every single day. I would say this is the very hardest part of moving, but it also makes me realize even more so how much these people mean to me.
- Moving is more fun than it is hard Of course moving is hard, it's a ginormous change in my life. I'm away from places and people that I love and all things familiar. But I've learned so much about yourself, I've discovered so much, and I get to be an explorer of the place that I live all over again. It's actually super fun, and I wouldn't trade this experience.
- Everyone should do it if they have the chance 10/10 would recommend at least once in life to move away. You grow exponentially and learn so much about yourself and you make memories that last a lifetime. We are lucky that we had the excuse of Trevor's schooling to push us out of our comfort zone.
- Our marriage strengthened from moving here This is my all time, hands down, favorite thing about living here. Oklahoma is our second honeymoon. I have heard this multiple times from married couples who have moved away. You have each other, you rely on each other, and we have grown even closer than before. You are explorers together of a new place, discoverers of the best ice cream, best cheese fries, great walking path, wide eyed when you discover something rad together. We've had so much time together, which I had no idea would happen since he is working on a master's degree, but our schedules have truly aligned. Which leads me to my last thing I will list, a total cliche' that has a whole new richness of meaning in my life.
- Home is wherever I'm with you Trevor and I joke about how if we could be happy living in STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA (no offense, Stillwater, but you know what we mean) we could be happy anywhere. If we only had each other, we would be happy. This is so comforting to know that home is not a location. Home is found in my best bud, and I'm excited for the new places we will explore together in the future.
Oklahoma, you're actually the shit. Thank you for everything you've taught me, and I'm excited to continue to grow in your homey state border. I think since we've dated for a year, I can finally tell you I love you unconditionally, and despite the earthquakes (yes, plural earthquakes) and tornado, you are so so worth it. Here's to more time together. Here's to learning and growing.
With love,
Meredith
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