I repeat a little mantra over and over in my head during times like these. The mantra is very grammatically incorrect, doesn’t quite make any sense, isn’t clever, and it might not be a mantra at all. But it goes something like this:
Don’t be overdramatic – things are never that bad. Life isn’t over if things are still unknown in the near future. Get over it. Get over it. Get over it.
I had a good friend in college that I always told to ‘relax’ or ‘chill out’. Let it be known you never tell a neurotic person this. It makes them more neurotic. I was so laid back to the point that nothing stressed me out. And I thought by telling someone to ‘chill out’ they can see things aren’t as bad as they seem, just as I believed. I’m like this in most situations, even years later. As we’re packing away, I know things will get done when they get done. It might look like a tornado blew through our apartment now, but I just picture it spotless a few weeks from now. And I want to tell my husband to ‘relax’ or ‘chill out’, but I hold my tongue. I wish I could dig into his head and stamp my mantra onto his brain. Or spew out cheesy clichés like ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’.
When people asked me if I was excited that I was moving to San Diego (YES, YOU WIN, EVERYONE GUESSED CORRECTLY!!! IT WAS CALIFORNIA :) I didn’t know what to say. I’m not the type who jumps up and down ecstatically, hugging everyone in sight. I was like…uh, I guess so. Not that I was upset either. I just felt a weight lifted off of me. Like I could start a new life, with my husband, and leave behind all the bad unpleasant memories in my life. Start with a clean slate.
Don’t worry, I’m not running from the law or anything :P
I was like….ok, good. San Diego. Whew. We shouldn’t sign up for cable TV there, because we’ll be out living life. Hiking and biking in warm weather. I’ll get back on my exercise routine in no time. Lose a few pounds. Increase the endorphins in my body to make me happy again. Hopefully lose these wretched allergies that keep me indoors with bags of ice on my swollen eyelids every morning. Search for a new job. Try new foods.
Of course, all these things are just silent thoughts running through my head. To everyone else….uh, I guess so. :)
Ok I have to go help my husband pack some more.
Congratulations on your move! I know I’ve never commented before, but this seemed like a good time. About 12 years ago I did nearly the same thing. I was living in central Canada, a cold winter place as everyone knows, plus I felt weighed-down by my life in a big way. So, out of the blue, I decided to change everything. I quit my job, packed up my life and moved to the west coast on my own. (To southern British Columbia, a very big change for me.) It totally changed my life. It gave me a whole new landscape, a lot of peace and an opportunity to reinvent my life. To learn to ‘chill out.’ (So you’re already ahead of me on that one!)
I’ve never regretted it. I have a wonderful life now, and (bonus!) no more freezing cold winters. I miss the snow a little bit, but I love being on the ocean more, so it works! :)
I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful experience. Change can be a great adventure.
MMC – Thank you for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate it :) I admire the people who have the courage to get up and start a new life, leaving familiar places, people, a job. I’m glad everything worked out for you in the move. I’m lucky enough to have travelled to so many places to realize this is what I want right now. So I can’t NOT be happy about this adventure :)