Two posts really got me thinking yesterday. I read this one on my blackberry while taking my morning pee (don’t judge) and marked it as “unread” so I could go back to it later. I then read this one while I was eating lunch at my desk.
The first post was by the lovely Jen, who lives in the tiny town of Fort McMurray in Northern, AB. It is the equivalent of my hometown of Fort St. John (I think, I’ve never actually been there) but they are both small towns, not much to offer but work, transient, COLD (8+ months of winter), limited restaurants, limited shopping, limited parks/running paths etc. While reading her post I kept thinking that this was ME a year ago.
The second post was Chrissy Coppa over at Storked! and she was asking her readers if they take advantage of their surroundings, if they appreciate them. She reminded me that even though we have something right now, doesn’t mean we always will.
The reasons these posts got me thinking is because 1. I can relate to both of them so much and 2. I can relate them to each other.
I can relate to Jen because like I said, my hometown is the equivalent of her hometown and I do feel her pain because I’ve been there. And the reason I am relating it to Chrissy’s post is because when I WAS there, I put all my energy into hating it and not enough into enjoying it. I didn’t appreciate the things that I DID have.
Now, I’m 1000 km away and I can’t pop into my mom’s for dinner, or join in on spontaneous family outings to the movies or bbq’s. I can’t call up any one of half-a-dozen friends that I know well enough I could send them a random text at the last minute asking to meet for a drink, or for coffee. I can’t go to the bar alone and immediately run into 10 people I know. I can’t take my new jeans over to my grandma’s for hemming because it’s on my way to Walmart. I can’t go to the gym and know all of the instructors/trainers. These are all things I took advantage of when I was there, and now, it’s the small things, like the ability to see my family whenever I want that I miss the most.
On the same note, there’s SO many things I can do in Kamloops that I couldn’t do back home. I can make a trip to Vancouver and the ocean in one day if I wanted too. I can drive an hour in any direction and end up at a gorgeous lake. I have beautiful hiking trails all around me. I have sunshine, almost every day. I can spend time with my boyfriend every night because we don’t work the crazy hours we did in FSJ. I never have to worry about being overwhelmed with family and friend obligations. I know I won’t be in Kamloops forever, so I should start appreciating these things while there at my fingertips, because before I know it, they won’t be.
I guess my point is; sit back, look around you, and relish in what you DO HAVE, RIGHT NOW. Because really, in the long run, that’s all that matters.
XO
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been toying with the same thing the last few days as i consider a job change and moving north a state. My family is all here and we are very close. moving 5 hours away and taking my kids away from their friends is not an easy decision.
This is such a great reminder. It’s hard to remember to appreciate the little things. It’s so easy to take things for granted.
When I was reading those, I was trying/stretching to find what I can enjoy at a time where I am so down in the dumps. (Unemployed, best-friend moving 25 hours away, offically no close gfs in the same state as me.) I made hubby take a walk on one of our trails with me last nite and really tried to appreciate the fact that we have so many awesome water activities around us. But I really am struggling because I know I have to lean more on my hubby and his friends more than ever now, and a girl just needs a gf now and then and the phone can’t fix all of that. (Sorry for my debbie downer attitude currently.)
i hated my hometown growing up as well. now i sort of appreciate it. however, both me and my younger sister are gunning for my parents to sell their house — so that my younger sister can get a bigger house, and mom & dad can live in the pool house when they are here =) It’s a whole big plan we have planned out — see I hate driving up to my parents’ house. but i do so every other weekend (it’s only an hour’s drive) during the summer time (the rest of the year they live in florida). the more reason for them to sell their house! since I’m only an hour away from where I grew up….. i can’t say i really left home all that much because i still go there. but I also live right outside of DC and we’ve got so much at our disposal.
a friend of mine also made me realize, you can’t always spend every trip rushing to get there and back. Last weekend, we went to visit her in rochester, Ny and on our way back, we took a detour to ithaca– GORGEOUS! despite the fact that it ended up being a 10 hour drive home (traffic was horrendous) — it should’ve only been a 6 hour drive. But what we saw, i absolutely appreciate!
so — when we go on a road trip to see his family — i’m gonna make sure we appreciate. it helps we’re gonna have our bikes too!
Some of my best inspirations are had in the bathroom… so I def don’t judge! LOL!
Moving away from home is hard and SCARY! I feel ya! I was a farm girl from Michigan, middle of nowhere on an 18 acre farm girl at that, before I moved here to Orlando, by myself, when I was 18. Commence Reality Check! It was a crazy year or so before I finally looked around me and loved with all my heart the beautiful weather, the wonderful friends I had made and didn’t miss home quite so much…
Great post today! Now I’m off to go call my little brothers back home and tell them I’m headed to the beach… even though I’m not it’s still fun to mess with them!
That’s so true. I think sometimes it is hard to appreciate what you have just because you are so wrapped up in moving on or the next big thing that will be happening that looking at the now is the last thing on your to do list. Thanks Amber, that’s a good thing to remember!
I read a really good article when I was a year or two out of college about how much we tie our happiness to our geography. It was really interesting – kind of talked about how people think, ‘oh, I’ll be so happy if I move to this city/state/etc’ . The point of the article was that happiness shouldn’t be determined by your geography and that if you aren’t happy where you are, moving probably isn’t going to help you. Of course there are exceptions to this, but I thought it made a really good point. It kind of gave me the wake up call I needed and made me realize I needed to make myself happy, regardless of my zip code.
I am lucky to say that I absolutely LOVE the city I live in. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. If I had to move, I guess I would, but I’d be content to stay in Minneapolis for the rest of my life – even if that means 6-8 months of crappy weather.
I can definitely relate to this and am trying to do it right now! Figuring out the “next step” can be such a frustrating phase (especially since patience is certainly not a strong characteristic of mine) – but I absolutely love where I’m living right now and am trying to just take it in!
Now I can relate to your post! I’m getting really excited to move to Portland in the fall, but I know it will put me 2.5 hours away from my family instead of less than an hour. It’s going to be a tough transition, but I am still excited because Portland has so much to offer.
I really like this post today. Happiness is what you make of it. I have learned this in the hard & easy way. Up untill my recent move I have always been working like crazy and fitting “fun” in when I could… Well I have now realized that its time for some much overdue relaxation with family and close friends. Clearly quiting my job in a time of “struggle” may not be the smartest financially, but for once, I dont care! I am going to live in the moment, have as much fun as I can and appriciate everything that surrounds me. I need this for me & I cannot be happier!! Sometimes a little change is good!
ps… See you in 7 sleeps!
XOXO
I like this post. I coach h.s. girls, and today during the run they were talking about going to college and how none of them wanted to stay in our city. “Too close!” “My parents would visit ALL the time!”
But I agree with you, home is a wonderful place that we take for granted, until we’re gone. Or until we’re in a strange place without any comforting, familiar surroundings.
So true! I lived in my college town pretty exclusively while I was in school and the number of things that I didn’t do while I was there was rather astounding. I try to do one thing NEW each time I go back to visit.
I’ve learned to appreciate all that StL has to offer because we have many great attractions, free stuff, groups, theater troupes and more. It’s a lot of fun. Sometimes I forget to enjoy what I have in my life, in spite of the good things I see and recognize so this post was perfect for me to read!
Yes, I’m at that place I need to take a few steps back, slow down, think a bit more about things instead of always go go going. Appreciating the now instead of what’s next.
Good question/point. I live in San Diego, CA, and rarely do I EVER go to the beach. We rarely go to the museums or downtown. It’s a crime. I know it is. Thanks for pointing it out!
It’s true, there are setbacks and positives to every location I guess! I’m so jealous that you can get to the ocean in ONE day!!!!
I read Chrissy post yesterday and thought that I really don’t get out and experience “life” nearly as much as a should. Mainly because I spend so much time on-line reading blogs…
You’re right! You really did write a veyr similar post today. We must be on the same wavelength at the moment!
This is a great post Amber! It is true that we do sometimes take things for granted. When I drove up north for my brother and sister’s grad, I had forgotten how beautiful it really is up there. I instantly noticed all the yellow canola fields and green patches… it actually is beautiful. Did not miss all those potholes though… WOW! I didn’t realize how bad they actually are!
Point is: we really do need to appreciate where we live and what it has to offer. Kelowna is amazing and I don’t take it for granted ever! So is Kamloops… they are unique in their own ways
xoxo
This is so true! I know exactly how you feel. Great post!
Amber, I am SO late on reading this, I apologize!!
You are VERY right!!! The ONE thing that really draws me to this town is my family. It’s a five minute WALK to my sisters house and I can see my niece whenever I want!! I really like that!!
Our town is very transient and I wish I had the ability to see MORE people more often (like if I go to a restaurant or bar, it’s very likely that I don’t know anyone)…
I think once my family starts making the move that I will make my move as well…I would hate to miss out on my niece’s childhood for selfish reasons!!!
Great post ONCE again girl!