Dear friends: Prepare yourselves for some truly significant news.
As we approach the end of the week, it feels like the perfect moment to delve into personal reflections and share a pivotal life update. Today, we’re talking about the proverbial act of “ripping the band-aid off.” Not in a literal sense, of course – while I occasionally share minor scrapes and mishaps on Instagram (like that time last month when Charlie, in a playful burst of energy, wrapped his leash around my ankle, leaving me with the most intense leash burn I’ve ever experienced), actual band-aids tend to be, shall we say, a bit less appealing. So, no, we’re discussing the profound process of making monumental decisions, taking bold steps, and embracing uncharted territory.
It’s about taking the plunge. Pulling the trigger. Going for it with unwavering resolve and committing to not looking back. Or so I tell myself.
Except, as a dedicated DIY blogger with a vibrant archive containing thousands of photographs, I possess a digital time capsule. I can effortlessly scroll back through years of content, revisiting moments before I committed to significant choices, and potentially find myself regretting the path chosen. Yet, deep down, I genuinely doubt that will be the case this time.
Perhaps this profound sense of indecisiveness stems from the very beginning of this kitchen renovation journey, where nothing has truly unfolded precisely according to plan. Or maybe, it’s simply that I was destined to encounter this particular emotional crossroads, and the kitchen renovation just happens to be the setting for this intense period of self-reflection and struggle. Regardless, throughout the course of this home improvement project, this kitchen has been the catalyst for the most profound indecision I’ve ever experienced.
The choices seemed endless, each carrying its own weight: Ceramic tiles or sleek glass for the backsplash? Should the tile extend gracefully to the doorways, or should it conclude abruptly? How about the edges – to edge the tile, or leave it unfinished? The pantry area posed another dilemma: a custom built-in bar adjacent to the large pantry, or preserve the existing closet intact? Then there were the finer details: a modern mix of metals for the door knobs, or a cohesive match to the cabinet hardware? The practicalities of installation also weighed heavily: traditional thinset mortar or a convenient tile mat? And of course, the eternal question at the end of a long day of DIY: Beer or wine?
I jest about that last one, of course. For those who follow this blog, it’s no secret that I consistently choose beer.
In truth, most of these moments of indecision are fleeting, passing swiftly like clouds in the sky. However, I now realize that somewhere deep in my gut, I just knew that something far more significant was on the horizon. Do you recall my post after graduate school graduation, where I discussed the importance of mentally preparing yourself for monumental life changes? That preparation proved invaluable, as I found myself grappling with anxiety over the sheer uncertainty of the future. This underlying current of unease caused me to waffle over decisions that would normally be straightforward for me, amplifying the smaller dilemmas into disproportionate challenges.
Speaking of waffling… now I’m unexpectedly craving waffles. The irony isn’t lost on me.
The overarching point is this: life has a peculiar way of suddenly changing course when you least expect it, presenting moments so impactful that words literally fly through your brain, only to clatter loudly to the floor. It’s a disorienting, exhilarating, and often overwhelming experience.
So, for the concise version – are you ready for this revelation?
I received a job offer. A truly significant one. And it’s not located here in Atlanta. After considerable deliberation and reflection, I’ve decided to accept it. This means, unequivocally, that I am moving.
No, this is not an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank – though it’s incredibly close to my blogiversary, which also happens in early April. There’s a deliberate reason I’m sharing this news today, rather than next Tuesday. I genuinely am moving. This entails the incredibly bittersweet act of saying farewell to my cherished “Ugg-Duck” house. This is a home I’ve lived with for four years, pouring my heart and soul into countless DIY projects, yet paradoxically, I haven’t truly had the chance to fully live in and simply enjoy it as a finished space. The process involves selling it and, along with it, all the memories we’ve created within its walls. The immense benefit of having my blog documenting every step of this journey is that it serves as my personal keepsake, a comprehensive archive of this incredible chapter. I’m contemplating renting a new house in my new “home town” initially, allowing myself time to acclimate to the new environment before diving into another fixer-upper. This means embarking on this entire DIY adventure all over again, but this time, I’ll be further away from my incredibly handy Dad and my endlessly helpful Mom, who have made a multitude of projects featured on this blog possible so far. It’s a new, monumental step, a true test to see if I possess the skills and confidence to tackle even more of these projects entirely on my own than ever before.
This momentous decision consequently brings forth several immediate implications:
- The Blog Will Continue: I am absolutely committed to keeping this blog alive and thriving. While turning my entire life upside down might inevitably lead to a slight decrease in posting frequency as I grapple with logistical challenges and try to gather all my “lost marbles,” I fully intend to keep you, my loyal readers, updated on every aspect of this transformative process. After all, it’s imperative to acknowledge that without this blog, this incredible job opportunity would likely never have materialized. I will dedicate a completely separate post to share more intricate details and the full play-by-play of how this career-defining event unfolded, as soon as I can stop thinking and writing in dizzying circles.
- Navigating the Shock and Disorientation: I am still experiencing a considerable degree of shock at the sheer speed and unexpected nature of these developments. The offer seemingly materialized out of nowhere, and I am currently struggling intensely to make sense of everything, attempting to impose a logical, chronological order on the myriad of tasks that need to happen next. My primary goal is to prevent myself from spiraling completely into madness… or perhaps I’ve already arrived there and am simply trying to find my way back to sanity!
- The “Ugg-Duck” House is Far From Ready to Sell: This is a colossal understatement. The house is AT ALL. AT ALL. AT ALL. ready to be put on the market. Even if I were to consider renting it out – which is not my preferred option unless absolutely unavoidable – it would necessitate hiring professional help to finish the countless unfinished projects. This marks a significant first for me, essentially a mini-adventure of delegation and collaboration amidst the broader chaos of moving. It’s a daunting task to prepare a DIY home, filled with personal touches and ongoing projects, for the critical eyes of potential buyers, ensuring it meets market expectations while still reflecting the love and effort poured into it.
- Embracing Remote Work During Transition: For a significant interim period, I will be working from home. This, too, is an entirely novel professional experience for me. However, I’m optimistic. Who knows? Perhaps this newfound flexibility will prove instrumental in accelerating the daunting process of getting the house ready for sale, allowing me to multitask and manage the various demands more efficiently.
- The Ultimate To-Do List and Emotional Purging: Expect a lot of absent-minded staring into space and blinking in disbelief. My immediate priority is to meticulously craft the ultimate to-do list of all to-do lists. While Ann Marie’s inspiring #40bagsin40days challenge, while excellent, simply doesn’t encompass the monumental scale of purging, decluttering, and organizing that is now required, it at least provides a conceptual framework. On the bright side, I’ve definitively figured out what my personal project for Lent will be this year! The emotional weight of sifting through years of memories, deciding what to keep, what to discard, and what to pack, is immense.
- Acknowledging the Emotional Toll: There will undoubtedly be a tear or two shed along this journey. This change, while incredibly positive and something I have been actively working towards for several years, still feels profoundly unsettling, akin to the floor giving way beneath my feet. My fervent hope is that this sensation doesn’t manifest literally before the official closing date on the house. The mixture of excitement for the future and deep sadness for leaving this chapter behind is a potent emotional cocktail.
And also? Holy shit. Gulp. What? All of those visceral reactions resonate deeply within me. I completely understand. I’m experiencing them too. While my initial instinct was to keep things quiet until I had every single detail perfectly figured out and neatly tied with a bow (a common practice I’ve observed among many bloggers), I decided against it. I understand why they choose that path: there’s an undeniable comfort in presenting a fully formed narrative, an announcement that goes something like, “I received a fantastic job offer, so I’m moving, and here’s the beautiful new house I’m buying!” It’s undeniably sooo much more reassuring for both the blogger and the audience.
However, achieving that level of complete resolution could easily take months. I genuinely don’t see a logical or sustainable way to remain silent for such an extended period while simultaneously making critical adjustments to this new job opportunity. I’m not even taking a break between roles; I’m simply transitioning from my current position to starting the new one remotely for the duration of the moving process. Consequently, I decided to try a different approach: embracing radical transparency. Even if that means revealing the chaotic, topsy-turvy interim period. Even if it means openly sharing the complex, mixed bag of emotions that inevitably accompanies such monumental life changes. That’s simply how life unfolds. And imperfect timings, with all their unpredictability and messiness, are always a thing.
In the long run, perhaps it will ultimately be more beneficial to openly share and document this entire process as it unfolds, rather than concealing the messy parts and only presenting a polished, finished product? (Yes, that’s a genuine question mark at the end of that sentence… because honestly, I truly don’t know the definitive answer.)
So, while my thoughts are understandably a bit scattered and all over the place, the mixed feelings I’m experiencing are profoundly real and deeply felt. And in that raw authenticity, I can at least find a steady anchor. I don’t feel entirely ready to bid farewell to my charming little house, the scene of so many DIY triumphs and learning experiences. Yet, I’ve always known in my heart that it was never destined to be my forever home. And fundamentally, I’ve never been a person who is particularly averse to change; in fact, I often thrive on it. Furthermore, I haven’t even begun to fully articulate just how incredibly exciting and full of potential all of this truly is. So, despite the lingering uncertainties and the bittersweet farewell, I am wholeheartedly going for it. I am committed to this new path, determined not to look back.
Okay… maybe just a tiny glance back. Just for a moment.