Writing Richter

After spending the last year and a half in the sweltering temps of Phoenix, it was time to to make a change. Although it was tough leaving my friends, family, and everything I’m comfortable with, I felt like it was the right move. Throughout my 25 years of living on this planet, I’ve learned that you gotta follow your heart. Don’t do something because your parents want you to. Don’t force yourself to live a life you don’t enjoy. I’ve learned that life is too short to be miserable and unhappy. Life is too short to be stuck in a rut or spent doing the things you don’t enjoy. Life is meant to be spent doing the things you love. Nowadays, I see so many people just going through the motions and not truly living. They live the same dull life every day and never truly experience how wonderful life really is. Yeah, you’ll go through some rough patches, but once you come out of the trenches, you gotta be stronger than ever.

So after I was deep in the trenches of Phoenix, I knew that something needed to change. Something didn’t feel right. All I knew is that I needed to be somewhere that fed my nature-loving soul. Somewhere that made my passions run wild.

So after hours and hours of thinking of where I could live, I came to the realization that I had to be in the mountains. I had to be in nature. I had to be close to lakes, rivers, hiking trails, ski resorts, and anywhere else I could get a sense of the great outdoors. One place came to mind — Lake Tahoe.

I came to Lake Tahoe once with my family when I was about 12 years old. Although I don’t remember much, I do remember the forests, nature, and of course the amazing lake.

Tahoe just seemed like a place that would really work for me. Forests, a clear blue lake, endless hiking trails, numerous ski resorts, the list goes on and on. But how was I gonna make it happen? Well, as you all know, it’s all about who you know.

Back in college I met some wonderful people that would become friends. As the years went on, life happened and we haven’t talked as much. But as I was scrolling through the lives of my many friends on social media, I stumbled across these friends and noticed they lived in Lake Tahoe. Could this be a sign? Could this be an opportunity? Turns out it was. After seeing gorgeous pictures and videos of their incredible journey, I decided to contact them. And after a few messages, it was set that we all wanted to find a house together. Just like that, I was moving to Tahoe. I was following my dream of living in the mountains. I was following my dream of living somewhere that truly made me happy.

When a nature-lover gets trapped in the concrete-jungle of Phoenix, they might feel trapped and desperately looking for relief. As their lungs struggle with the pollution and their mind tries to adjust to the indescribable heat, the great outdoors is the only thing on their mind. This was my life in Phoenix. I couldn’t take the heat. I couldn’t take the city. Nature was calling.

So just like that — I went. I took the leap and decided that this was the best move for me. After solidifying a remote position doing what I enjoy, everything fell into place. I finally saw a light on the horizon. I couldn’t have more ecstatic for my new adventure.

In life, sometimes you just know you need a change. Sometimes you know a place isn’t right for you. Sometimes you just know this isn’t how you want to live your life. Although a big change might sound scary, sound stressful — you gotta take the leap. Yeah, there’s tons of factors to consider, but at the end of the day, you shouldn’t look for any more excuses. If you feel it in your heart, make the move.

After days of packing, planning, and wondering how I’m going to stay awake on the 14 hour drive, I went — and I made it.

I’ve been out here for about 10 days and I couldn’t be more happy with my decision. I’ve made new friends, new memories, and I’m still unsure that this place is even real..

So as I proceed in this new chapter of life, I’m welcoming life with open arms. I plan to be outside every day, exploring the great world before us. And by living in natures playground, I’ve got tons to do. So as I embark on this journey, I couldn’t be more excited. The stars are finally starting to align.

When life gets you down, when life makes you question, remember to always follow you gut. Follow those passions inside you that are hungry to live the life you’ve always wanted. Don’t listen to the haters, don’t listen to that voice, do what you need to do for your happiness. Tired of the life you’re living? Make a change. Tired of the place your living? Move. Too many people get trapped into the life they don’t want and think there’s no way out. Well… there is.

Take the leap. Take the plunge. Live the life you want.

It’s actually closer than you think.

Well.. things didn’t quite work as planned on my recent adventure to Colorado. The mountains, fresh air, and fresh start brought me to that gorgeous state, but things didn’t go as expected. But I’m not saying it was a bad thing. As I approach my 25th birthday, I’ve learned that life is a constant battle. A battle of failure, highs, lows, great times, and some moments that leave you puzzled. But that’s the beauty of life. There’s always a new day and a new adventure waiting. The key is to always be who you are and always follow your gut.

So the biggest reason for my move to Colorado was to start my career. After doing extensive research on jobs and opportunity in the Rocky Mountain state, I decided to give it a try. I’ve always loved Colorado and it seemed like the perfect place to start a new adventure. But like I said, sometimes things do go according to plan. So after I solidified a job at a hotel so I could pay the bills, the search was on for a new career. And after nearly 2 years since graduation, I was ready to dive head first into a new profession.

That’s when I started applying for job after job after job. The phones were ringing, the emails were stacking up, and I thought I would have my “dream job” in no time. As the months went on, I had a large number of interviews. All of them went well in my opinion, but for some reason, I never got that job offer I was waiting for. I soon realized that Denver was a very very popular city and the competition was fierce. After nearly 5 months full of interviews and no new job on the horizon, I had to make a decision. There comes a time in our lives where we might have to take a step back and do what’s right. And at the time, my career was all I was focused on. So after spending hours weighing pros and cons, researching jobs, and doing some extensive soul-searching, I knew the choice I had to make.

It hurts me to say it, but that choice was moving back to Arizona. Familiarity, opportunity, and my loved ones is what really drove me back to the desert. But what really drove me was the feeling I had in my gut. That voice that tells you what is really important. That feeling that just feels right.

At the end of the day, Colorado will always be there. After researching jobs in the valley of the sun, it seemed there was a better opportunity to get my foot in the door. All I needed was that one place that would give me a chance to show my worth. And moving back to Colorado is always a possibility. In fact, I’m almost certain I’ll move back in the future. It just wasn’t the right time. Sometimes the stars don’t align, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams. It just came down to doing what’s best for my career and well-being.

So after a few interviews with some Arizona companies, I finally got the offer I’ve been waiting for. Finally, a company gave me a chance to apply my skills and grow as a professional. I haven’t looked back ever since. I kickstarted my career and I’ve learned some very valuable skills. I’ve gained some outstanding experience in the industry and the future is looking very bright.

It all comes down to following your gut. Something deep down told me that moving back to Arizona was the right step. Something told me that this needed to happen. Yeah, it sucked that I only lived in Colorado for 5 months, but sometimes life sends you signals. Life steers you in one direction, then steers you in another. But the force that steers your life is what you feel on the inside. Yeah it may seem strange to flip your life upside down and pack up and go, but sometimes taking the leap is all you need to find your true happiness. That road my have bumps, that road my have tough obstacles, but at the end of the day, if you follow your heart, life will reward you. The reward may not happen immediately, but if you keep working hard and keep a level head, those rewards could enter into your life when you least expect it.

Life may seem hard, life may seem dull, and life can sometimes be a pain. But at the end of the day, if you follow your passions, never give up on your dreams, and trust your gut, life can be one beautiful thing.