You Won’t Believe How One Trip to Fayetteville Changed My Life
Wow, I don’t frequently post the week of an event, but this post is more about the personal changes than the event itself. More information to come about the event and the fantastic people who contributed to it. But today, I wanted to basically write a letter to myself.
How do I begin? Well at the beginning I guess, I have never been one to branch out on my own. I always have to have a plus one. Part of the reason is that it makes it less awkward for me- nothing feels more uncomfortable than walking into a room and knowing no one there. But another reason was I hated to drive by myself. Sure I drive by myself around town, but long-distance, you can just forget about it, I wasn’t having any of it.
So now you knew what my former self did, let me tell you about how one trip to Fayetteville, NC made the most significant difference in my life. You may recall in May 2018, the day I took my maiden voyage to Fayetteville to meet up with some Raleigh bloggers. It was the first time I drove a major highway by myself in a long time, and the first time I didn’t have a plus one for the event. Who knew how that one tiny step would result in all the changes of the past year.
I reflected on those changes when I stepped into Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Farmer’s Market this past weekend. I had visited them a year before on that trip, and they were just a plain structure. Sure they had the structure built, but there was no subsistence inside. It was just an empty shell. Fast forward to last weekend, and I was in awe of the changes that had taken place.
Where there were no walls, there were beautiful reclaimed lumber wood planks. Where there was a pile of sand, was now a beautiful lawn, with local merchants tents scattered on it. Where there was just concrete, was now a beautiful covered patio with chairs and table and most importantly people.
As I looked and reflected on the changes that had taken place over the year, I knew that I wouldn’t be writing just a blah blah story about the event, but instead, it would be one of reflection and admiration for myself ( bear with me here.)
That trip to Fayetteville in 2018 brought me so many things. First and foremost, I met so many amazing people on that trip that I am still friends with, and I support them any way I can even if it means traveling to hear with speak.
Second, I fell in love. I fell in love with the charm of Fayetteville and have returned several times for visits. Even begging the Fayetteville CVB to adopt me as one of their bloggers. ( Melody and Jenny Hint! Hint!)
Third, that solo voyage led to me take many more. I have traveled so many miles that I even branched out, and we actually purchased a Chevy Malibu ( a car) for me. I know shock, I wasn’t having it for so many years.
It also led me to make the best decision I ever made, and that was purchasing my blog cabin. My writing getaway. A place where I can just hang out and watch tv, read a book, work, and not have to worry about dishes, clutter, or the mess that is my house. ( Let’s be honest, we know most of our homes aren’t spic and span clean. )
Looking back on the pictures comparing last year to this year, I see the physical changes. I am 20 lbs lighter, my hair is definitely a lot longer. But when I was getting dressed for the event, I chose to put the same outfit that I had on the year before, to make a point.
To show me that getting out of your comfort zone is amazing and good. And sometimes getting out of my own head and jumping feet first into life makes all the difference. That trip to Fayetteville was the start of the journey I am now on and will continue to be driving one mile at a time. So I want to thank the town of Fayetteville, their townspeople and most importantly the CVB who opened my eyes to a fantastic city. For sparking that first step out of my comfort zone. Just as Dirt Bag Ales Brewery and Farmer’s Market went from being a hollow shell of a building to a vibrant place for people to meet on a Sunday, I too have changed, and now I am always looking for my next adventure.
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