Walk Thought: Migration
“Walk Thoughts” are just as their name suggests - thoughts spurred on through time when my feet are grounded on the earth and my hair is blowing in the wind; moving in nature and being moved by nature. These are candid thoughts of mine brought on by conversations with others, books, podcasts, music, or simply time of solitude. Though these thoughts are somewhat clinical in nature, they are held with an open palm, as they are designed to provoke MORE thought and may not be fully completed thoughts yet. Enjoy growing with me as we explore this together!
Wowza - what a whirlwind the past three months have been!
For some background context: At the end of April, I packed up my (new-to-me) AWD vehicle and moved my entire life and business from Boiling Springs, PA to the small town of Leadville, CO. Prior to the move, in my mind, this action of migrating from the East to the West would just be a few days - the days on the road. In reality, the process of migration lasted from about the middle of March until…well… now (end of May).
My new mountain playground!
Thankful for the unending support of my friends, including sweet Jen who did the entire drive with me across the country!
This idea of “migrating” sparked my curiosity. Migration can be defined as the process of moving from one place to another (typically, a place more suitable, or with more resources) to settle, either temporarily or permanently.
When I think of migration, I think of birds. How fitting, considering the beautiful bird that visually represents Waypoint. What I found through some primitive Google searching is that birds, like my experience, start preparing for the process of migration long before they actually take flight. They do some pretty remarkable things, including molting, eating more, reducing their sleep time, and even growing organs (WHAT?!). Minus the molting and the organ-growing, I think I can relate to the birds! Preparing for the move was as emotionally and socially taxing as it was physically. I noticed a general increase in fatigue, brain-fog, and hunger. The change was depleting my typical resource reserves and I definitely felt the strain of the impending life shift.
Then, I departed my “Place of Origin” and I arrived at what is considered the “Place of Destination.” I thought, “This is it! Now my mind (and life) will get back to a new form of normal. I’ve made it.” THINK AGAIN! An important part of the definition of migration is that the goal is, “to settle.” Settling is its own undertaking. For me, settling in to my new home has included getting plugged in to the local running groups, trying out community yoga, spending some time in town supporting small businesses and their owners, checking out churches, and working at the town’s Intermediate School as a long-term substitute 6th grade teacher. Two major elements of settling are security and stability. My exploration of these community programs and spaces have helped me to increase my feelings of stability in this quaint, quirky mountain town. Security, in my opinion, requires time to run its course.
Ultimately, I am so excited and blessed to have the opportunity for Waypoint to partner with the community in Lake, Summit, and Chaffee counties. Thank you for your patience as I work(ed) through this process of migration. I am excited to get back on track with Waypoint Narratives and Walk Thoughts as well as social media.
For clarity:
Telehealth is still available for all Pennsylvania residents ages 14 and older.
Walk + Talk and Telehealth options are available for all Colorado residents ages 14 and older.
