How I’m Finding Happiness in Our Current Life Situation

With our big move from California to Texas, and all the transitions that have come with it, how are we finding happiness in our current situation? I’ve been getting this question a lot, and here’s the answer!

Outfit details:
Sweater Dress (wearing size small)
Black patent leather pumps
beaded tassel earrings
boys’ suit coats
boys’ pants
boys’ white polo shirts
Boon boy ties 
Sanny’s boots
Big boys Timberland boots

 

So many of you have sent emails, messages, and have left comments about our transition from California to Texas. But I’ve been most surprised about the many messages expressing surprise at how happy I seem to be.

First off, I love you guys for your concern, support, and kindness through all of this.

If you want to know a little more about the move, READ ABOUT IT HERE.

 

The short answer about how I’m finding happiness in our current situation

 

I’m CHOOSING happiness!  I’m looking for reasons to be happy and to love Texas, instead of focusing on how I miss California.

Happiness is a choice, and you’re the only one that can choose it for yourself!

 

The long answer about how I’m finding happiness in our currently situation

Now for the long answer. I want to share five ways I’m finding happiness a move to a new state.

 

1. Don’t compare your new location to your old location.

It is totally in my nature to compare things, and we live in a world where comparison is rampant. So I made a very conscious choice before we moved to not compare Texas and California to each other. It’s apples and oranges. They’re very different places and both of them offer really wonderful, different things that can be individually appreciated.

This perspective has made a world of difference, I think, because I’m spending my time learning to love Texas for what it is, rather than begrudgingly wishing it was more like California.

2. Stay connected with friends.

One of the hardest things about moving to a new place is not knowing anyone, and missing all your old friends and loved ones in your old location. I’ve found that staying connected with those loved ones makes it easier and less lonely while you work on finding friends and connections in your new place.

It could be easy to feel jealous, left out, sad, or lonely when you hear about what’s happening back at home with your friends, but try to keep the right perspective. Remember how amazing it is to have friendships that span thousands of miles, how awesome it is that technology lets you stay connected so easily, and how wonderful those human connections are that make the loneliness subside a bit.

Also, don’t wait for your friends from back home to connect – send the texts or make the phone calls the moment you’re feeling lonely and missing them!

3. Enjoy the family time that a new move brings.

When you move to a new city or state, there’s at least a month long period (often longer) where you aren’t involved in extracurricular activities, you have no church assignments, and you have very few friends.

This means your family probably has free evenings and weekends. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!

We’ve been playing card and board games together, reading books, taking drives around our new city, taking naps together, riding bikes, and other things that our busy lives don’t always allow time for. It’s been such a blessing for our family to have so much family time together!

 

4. Make a list of fun things to do in your city and start doing them.

Take advantage of a chance to explore your new area with your family!

I started a note on my phone, and every time someone suggests a restaurant, museum, hike, etc, I write it down in there.

Compiling these lists, and then starting to work through them, makes a new city feel more exciting and less daunting. It also helps you realize how much your new city has to offer!

Our first week in Texas we tried out a few local restaurants, checked out our little downtown area, visited the local library, and took a hike around the lake.

 

5. Get settled as quickly as possible.

We had so many people comment on how quickly we settled into our new house. Granted, we had a moving company and unpackers, so that helped speed things up immensely. BUT we still just dedicated a couple of days to organizing, hanging art and pictures, cleaning the house, and stocking the fridge so we could feel settled.

For me, if I don’t get everything done within the first week or two, it’s really easy for me to lose motivation and then things sit un-done for months. Maybe you can relate. So get in there and get the work done quickly so you can enjoy it and not have to live in chaos or boxes for a long time.

Also, getting settled quickly makes such an impact on kids. Our boys instantly felt calm and at home with all their things put away and organized, and we were almost instantly able to get into a good routine with them.

 

 

Honestly, we’ve only moved 3 times with kids, so we’re certainly not experts. But we’ve been very intentional about this move since the moment we found out in November we were moving to Texas, and because of that intentionality things truly have gone more smoothly than we could have ever imagined.

If you are moving or know someone who is moving, I’d love for you to share this post with them to help them in their transition!