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It’s formally been a 12 months since my household and I relocated to the Finger Lakes area of New York. Truthfully, I can’t consider it. Partly as a result of we nonetheless have unpacked containers hidden away for when we’ve time to undergo what now seems like one other life and since all of it got here so quick.
I can also’t consider it’s been this lengthy since I’ve written on my beloved weblog (although these wanting extra common posts to know simply to comply with my Instagram). That bit is as a result of I’ve been actually busy rising my enterprise and, when not working, making an attempt to disconnect and take on this fantastic new life we’ve created for ourselves.
Some associates and followers have requested just a few questions on life right here, and I believed I’d use this replace to reply a few of these and provides a glimpse into what has modified for us.
GROWING OUR SMALL BUSINESS
Since I final wrote my husband has stop his high-end, high-paying job in New York Metropolis to return work for our company, Courageous World Media, full-time. Although this was my thought, and I actually labored to persuade him to do that, I used to be a large number when he lastly did. All of the insecurities of proudly owning my very own enterprise, plus these pesky voices that made me doubt myself made for a bizarre, surreal transition. Although I attempted to maintain an optimistic face, the reality is I used to be scared…but additionally extremely assured that it was the correct selection for him, us, our enterprise, and our household.
We determined earlier on that we didn’t need to play the political video games or immerse ourselves right into a system the place it turned about who you knew greater than something. As an alternative, we took the slower route of constructing on our popularity and phrase of mouth. So, my husband and I put our heads down and set to work, and it’s paying off. This has additionally made our work really feel extremely fulfilling and fulfilling.
Within the course of, we’ve actually come to understand how far more we will do right here as small enterprise homeowners and entrepreneurs. The room to develop and be inventive and to essentially construct one thing significant. We work onerous and are dedicated to high quality and significant relationships, and we’re seeing the rewards that include that, one thing that simply will get misplaced and goes unnoticed by so many within the large metropolis.
This November Courageous World Media will flip 6 years previous (!!!). This dream I needed to construct one thing that may assist to do extra than simply advertising and marketing and communications has grown right into a enterprise that helps my entire household…and due to this transfer, I get to do it with my husband by my facet.
Whereas I do know shifting abroad to start out a enterprise or freelance and develop into a digital nomad is the large factor now, I additionally know this isn’t one thing many individuals can or need to do. (To not point out, I’ve very sturdy opinions about how these digital nomads are hurting lots of the communities they’re serving to to gentrify…however that’s a subject for one more put up). There are locations that don’t require you to uproot your life overseas and which are extremely amiable to these wanting to start out a enterprise or change careers to one thing a bit much less demanding and chaotic. I’m so joyful I landed right here.
A MORE LAID-BACK LIFE – SORT OF
Being a small enterprise proprietor additionally means you don’t function by conventional 9-5 schedules. It’s tempting to all the time work, however not as tempting as it’s to benefit from the outdoor. It’s so stunning right here that we make sure that to carve out time to take all of it in as a lot as we will, whether or not that’s spending time on the lakes, climbing, exploring new cities and companies, or simply sitting outdoor taking within the sunsets – that are breathtaking!
One factor I’ve realized about individuals, on the whole, is how straightforward it’s to take as a right the issues round us. I did for a very long time, and it took me shifting out of New York Metropolis to understand what that insane, loopy, busy metropolis has to supply and what number of items it has to present those that have the grit to remain. I attempt to not take something as a right like that once more as a result of I miss on a lot in any other case.
The Finger Lakes isn’t any completely different. Some individuals right here can’t see what I see and don’t perceive why I adore it a lot. And there are some individuals who have by no means been right here or might need simply pushed by way of who simply don’t get it. I additionally perceive that for some life is more durable, with many challenges and much fewer privileges. I perceive, too, that not each place is for everybody.
So that is from a really private perspective. For us, life right here has been more healthy, extra rewarding, and so much much less demanding. We really feel like we will breathe and happiness to our core, and we take pleasure in having a lot nature and sweetness at our fingertips.
FINDING MY PEOPLE
Earlier than I knew something, I apprehensive about rural America’s racism and politically conservative popularity…the antithesis of who I’m, what I consider in, what I stand for, and who we’re as a household. I apprehensive in regards to the lack of range particularly when so many individuals informed me there was none right here. The years, touring, and lots of strikes have taught me that a few of these issues can and do exist wherever, even in my proudly proclaimed liberal former New Jersey neighborhood. And in order a lady of colour, I do nonetheless make selections contemplating all of those elements, however these usually are not selections unique to the place I dwell now. In actual fact, I in a short time realized that there are many numerous, opened-minded, welcoming, and progressive communities within the area – I merely wasn’t speaking to the correct individuals. This previous 12 months, we’ve befriended an exquisite mosh posh of numerous individuals, largely as a result of we opened ourselves as much as it and didn’t permit our apprehensions or preconceived notions to restrict us.
Sure, I can commonly enter areas the place I’m the one individual of colour, and sure, even these most well-intentioned individuals can say probably the most ignorant issues, however our circles are extensive, and we hunt down different areas and different individuals and have realized that there are fairly just a few extra who had been in search of us as a lot as we had been in search of them.
I’m so joyful that I didn’t permit my beforehand uninformed generalizations to restrict me find my individuals and the gorgeous areas they’ve welcomed us into.
what’s subsequent
It’s onerous to ascertain the longer term as we’re nonetheless adjusting to our current actuality. We’re at present engaged on thrilling initiatives with new purchasers and planning just a few worldwide journeys earlier than the tip of the 12 months. (Sure, we’re planning much more journey once more!)
We hope to develop our company subsequent 12 months, although our aim is to not get too large in order that we will all the time proceed to ship extra customized experiences.
I need to weblog extra…my goodness, I have to share with you all of the locations and issues I’ve tried, visited, and beloved!
And lastly, I’ll proceed to share extra commonly on social media, however I’m so moved by messages I’ve acquired from readers across the globe telling me they miss my voice on right here. Thanks! I’ll make each effort to share much more over the subsequent few months.
Within the meantime, let me know within the feedback what else I can share with you about life within the Finger Lakes or a transfer like this! Pleased to share!
Thanks for studying!
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