I did it! Well....sort of.

Three years ago I said I would do it. And I did it!
 
Well not all of it. Okay, not even a lot of it. But I did some of it.

And I am back to encourage you to do some of it too.
 
Because, man, does it feel good!
 
The last time I wrote in my blog, I was in a strange place in my life. I was newly married, I had left my cubicle job, and was on the free living high! Although we feared the financial sacrifice of losing a job, we quickly found alternatives that increased our income rather quickly. A sure sign that we were headed in the right direction. I was happily checking in with you and giving you all of the updates because I believed that you could do the same! Change your circumstances and change your life. And then something happened. Something I never expected and for years I have tried to recover from. This is not a political blog by any means, so I am not going to provide the details. But if you simply glance over at the date on your computer, and subtract three years, well... you’ll figure it out. I was not discouraged from continuing along my journey, but I was disheartened. And to pursue a dream with a broken heart takes a whole lot more energy then I had expected. So I stopped writing in 2017. And eventually took a break from social media altogether. But enough of that! Because I am back and my journey has brought me to new places and I am excited to share!

Because I never stopped believing that you could also change your life.
And I want to be your greatest encourager.
 
So here is the general update on what 2017, 2018, and 2019 looked like. In 2017 I began working for an amazing female entrepreneur who has provided me with invaluable teachings and trainings. However, the biggest thing I have received from working with her is the taste of working for myself. And that taste is better than any s’mores concoction known to mankind. (did you know I am obsessed with s’mores?) In the summer of 2017, the boys and I learned that our household was gaining a new member! So let’s fast-forward 9 months because my brain went into hibernation mode and simply keeping my 4 year old alive took the little energy I had. By 2018, my greatest accomplishment was rolling out of bed and landing on my feet. But in April of 2018, 1 week before my birthday, he was here.
 
Asher Grey Jaramillo was and is a dream come true.
 
Towards the end of 2018, Jacob and I reevaluated our goals and came to a fork in the road. One that some people take up camp in. And even build a tiny house and stay for a lifetime. We learned that in order to make significant changes in our lives and in the lives of our boys, we would have to consider leaving our family and friends and moving to another town. In another city. In another state.
 
And so our research began.
 
In early 2019, having never been to Austin, Texas, we decided it might be perfect for us. And so we visited for just 3 days. Two things that might stick out to you.

First, Texas?! Really? After you fell into a black hole following the events of 2016, you move to Texas? And second, 3 days? You made a life changing decision to move to a new city after visiting for only 3 days?!
 
Yes and Yes.
 
What I have learned in the past few years is that pursuing dreams takes logic and intuition. And many times, it takes more intuition than logic. So as you could imagine, I’m often met with confusion and concern. But having moved to Boston without ever having been there, and living with roommates without ever having met them prior, I’m used to it!
 
So back to this confusing and concerning decision. It was not only the lower cost of living that attracted us. Because alone, that would not have been such a powerful decision. The part of our move that I want to highlight for you is that it forced us to change. Too often we become comfortable in our environments and the day-to-day struggle. We become used to jobs we are unhappy in, paychecks that are too little, time away from our families, unhealthy habits that bring short-term satisfactions and allow us just enough happiness to continue the cycle each week. That was no longer okay for us. Yet we did not know how to drastically change without making drastic changes. And relocating became an option to reset. So reset is what we chose. We moved to Round Rock, Texas in the summer and immediately our routines were forced to change. Again, you change the environment, you change your habits. We vowed to focus on our family, but to also focus on our future. Our energy became dream focused and less than 5 months later, we are several steps closer to living our dreams. While still truck driving, Jacob also belongs to a crossfit community and is developing himself so that one day he could own a crossfit gym. I am writing again and completed my first children’s book, something that took focus and intentionality.

And, as of January 1, 2020, I am officially a business owner in the state of Texas!

But more about that at another time.

Life is good. Do we miss our family? Of course! Do we miss our city? Ummm…do you remember where I moved from? San Diego is paradise and to say I don’t miss it would be laughable. And I would be a liar. But had I stayed, I would potentially be missing a life I never knew. And that would be a tragedy. Change is hard, but just as growing pains are uncomfortable, so too are they necessary to reach our potential. I look forward to continuing to share our journey with you in the hopes that when you come to those forks in the road, you have the confidence to keep moving.
 
Let me be the first to tell you, it will be okay. 

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