Preparing to move from my house where I'd lived since 2002 was difficult. I loved that place and had put so much into it to improve and update it. But after being laid off last year and all my funds and savings gone, I had to leave my house in order to work (and hopefully be able to save my house from foreclosure while not living in it).
Texas Gas Service paid for the move and did all the packing, loading, and unloading for me - which was a huge plus. I found a decent apartment just a few miles from work in Austin, and settled in. Downsizing from a 3bd/2bath house to a 2/1 apt was not easy, and at the time of writing this, I've still plenty to go through and eliminate to make space.
On an uncomfortable personal note, I had been under a great deal of stress and anxiety for the past couple years, for multiple reasons, among them were drudging through a difficult and intensive Master's program, a stressful and unrewarding new job, then the difficulties of unemployment after being laid off from that job, among other personal physical and mental struggles. Moving to a new place without knowing anyone amplified these struggles, and I had to fight off depression and anxiety for the first several months. Side note: I hesitate to share this on my blog, but in an attempt to be honest with the reader as well as myself, it needs to be included; plus the fact that my goal is to come out of these struggles with positive results it's necessary to address the struggle for perspective.
Since my arrival in Austin, I've made friends and have been enjoying very much my new job, my colleagues and boss there, as well as the work I do. They have been sending me all over Texas to do GPS training for the field crews, so I've enjoyed the travels and seeing new places, getting to know the Lone Star State. In addition to these improvements, I've been visiting with my doctor and we discovered that my thyroid was way out of balance, which had been exacerbating the physical and mental struggles. We've been getting it back in balance and that has helped tremendously. I'm surprised at how much the thyroid affects all the systems - anyone who struggles with hypothyroidism can most likely relate - and I'm optimistic to come out of this on top too.
I got to see family and friends back home over Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was so nice to be back home and to see Arizona. Some people find it crazy that I love AZ so much. It really is a special place, and I'll be posting plenty of Arizona related themes on this blog.
I came back and rang in the new year last weekend and look forward to 2011 with optimism, and I'm excited to bring you the reader along with me.
Preston! I'm happy to have found your blog! I'm sorry you've had such a rough go of things. :( It really is amazing how a wonky thyroid can ruin everything, it can make a person crazy for sure. Thyroid troubles run in my family and I think are to blame for my nasty bouts of postpartum depression. Good for you for sorting it out. Austin sounds like a great place. We miss you in Az, it's been way way too long!
ReplyDelete