Once upon a time I moved from the south to a place I’d never even laid eyes on, Denver, Colorado. I was born and raised in the south, in Mississippi to be exact, and I had never lived in any other environment. The move was a for a job and I was very ready to leave Atlanta ,where I was working and living at the time, for a fresh start because almost everything I had going on there was completely stagnant. I actually prayed for the move and my prayers were answered and I packed up the trunk and back of my car with everything that could fit and made the drive. This move was just one of the first things that actually helped me realize that my situation can always change for the better with sincere consistency, a positive mentality, and the will to move forward.
I got to Denver in January of 2016 for the new job and crashed with a friend for a few days before I found my apartment. I started my new position with a major media company and was happy to have some new opportunities coming my way. I have been with the company for a number of years now and am happy to been able to work with a company that is world class in the field and teaches their employees to have the eye of the tiger no matter the position. Although things started off well at work, Denver itself was a culture shock for me coming from Atlanta, GA in several ways including a lack of diversity, and what seemed like limited cuisine choices. I arrived in the dead of winter and was looking around for some soul food restaurants and many other types of places to eat that were usual for me and was very disappointed at first, but I eventually found my few places that were pretty good. I also always encourage anyone moving to a new place and things seem whack at first to stop comparing the new place with the old place so that you can look at things with fresh eyes without judgement. We all have our favorite things that we like but it’s always a great thing to understand during your life’s journey that flexibility is key to winning the race.
I was empowered by doing the work of going through multiple interviews with multiple companies, staying focused when rejection came, keeping a grateful attitude when things didn’t go my way, and always remembering my faith foundation that always kept me grounded. I am reminded when speaking to people who haven’t yet taken the leap and escaped their comfort zone for an unfamiliar place to always to try to not scoff at things right away if they aren’t to their liking. It’s a process of learning and understanding that will beautifully blossom in front of you if you let it grow.
