I'm 31 years old, and this move will be the 25th time in my life that I've had to move. I moved 9 times during my childhood, between birth and graduation from high school. When I went off to college, I moved 8 times while there. After college and since marriage, I've moved 7 times, at least 7 times to different cities. I did move one time that I didn't count when I moved from one apartment to another in the same complex just after getting married.
I remember one time moving as a child. I was between 5th and 6th grade, approaching my 3rd move in 3 years. For that move, we actually moved back to the same school as we had been in 3 years before. I remember my mom telling me that when moving, it's best to "bloom where you're planted". In other words, make friends and live there as if you'll live there forever.
There's something to be said for that. It really does make living in a place much more enjoyable than when you don't bother doing that. I've moved so many times that I've clearly done it both ways--blooming where I've been planted or just biding my time until the next move. But when you bloom where you're planted, it sure makes moving oh so hard.
This is one of those times. When we left our last apartment in 2005 and moved into this house, our first home, we were planning on staying here for a at least 5 years. Our plans were changed slightly when we decided to rent out our house at the end of 2007 for 18 months while my husband finished school. Then our tenants decided to move out sooner than we had previously arranged and we moved back here. That was okay, because we've been planning on staying here even longer all along.
But plans change. Oh, how they always change! My life has not gone at all the way I planned it or necessarily even wanted it to go. Most of the time, that's all right. Most of the time, it's not so hard to adjust to the change, to bend with the wind as it blows, so to speak. But there are occasions where the change, especially a more sudden change, is really difficult, painful even.
When we moved here, I tried hard to "bloom where I've been planted". I've gotten involved in the ward. I've tried to attend every activity that I possibly can. I've tried keeping up with my visiting teaching. I've joined the ward choir. I've fulfilled my callings. I have served when being asked to serve. I have made some great friends and brushed lives with some absolutely awesome people. I'm very sad to be leaving this ward at this time. This would have been a good ward for my children to spend their childhood. I am so sad at the thought of leaving those behind with whom I've tried very hard to cultivate friendships.
The prospect of moving and starting over fresh is always enticing to me. I'm not saying this is a bad decision or something I don't want to do. But with moving always comes sadness. Today I'm feeling that sadness.
2 comments:
We are truly going to miss you!
Jenna, I can't thank you enough for this post. You've given me a lot to think about. We'll be moving from New York in a year or so, possibly sooner. Moving from Sweden to New York was much harder than I could have ever imagined. I know that until Brent becomes more established in his career, it is likely that we'll move frequently. I've been wanting to smooth the process so I don't take it so hard each time. But I don't know if that's possible. Making the move easier means you do have to put down roots. And its never easy to uproot yourself and move. But at the same time, I'm so grateful for the friends I've made in each place. I've really learned that there are so many amazing people in the world, just waiting for new friendships. Anyhow, you have given me some really good advice, unkowningly. I'm going to take it to heart and enjoy where I'm at, without worry for the future.
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