It had been a while since I’d been back to my home state of North Carolina. My parents are always in need of a getaway so they’ve been coming out to Oregon pretty frequently. I don’t think I’d been back to NC since 2018, so a trip there was definitely overdue.
Up until my trip this month, going home had always been bittersweet. It always seemed to be a reminder of “who I was” now I finally saw it as a reminder of “how far I’ve come”. I like to describe Wilmington, NC as the smallest town of 200,000+ people you’ll ever see. Either you fit in or you don’t, at least for me that was the case. I had a really hard time finding myself there. Moving away from Wilmington in 2008 was the hardest and yet the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I say hardest because my parents are my best friends. From a very young age though I always had wanderlust, I guess that’s what ultimately led me somewhere else when I got the chance. I also thought moving meant some of the personal issues I was dealing with wouldn’t follow me elsewhere but that was not the case. It wasn’t until recently that I started making changes and discovered if I’m happy with myself and comfortable in my own skin, it’s possible to be happy and confident anywhere. Like Dorothy, I just had to realize I had the power all along.
Ruby sneakers from Akira // light blue gingham active set from Aerie top here bottoms here // bow earrings from the Erst Wilder Wizard of Oz Collection //