celebrating six months in Cleveland

by Kaylah Stroup

Today marks six months since I signed the paper work, and picked up the keys to my own apartment. Can I just say it’s been a damn fine six months. Perhaps the best six months of my life. Moving to the city was a big, scary change. A few weeks ago when I was talking to my mom about how much I loved Cleveland, she said something along the lines of “it was scary for all of us, but it really was the best thing for you.” And it was. I was unhappy for a long time before coming here. Something had to happen, I had to leap. It was a necessity. I left behind so much; a lot of possessions, and a lot of familiar things. I gave up a house that I helped buy. I moved somewhere where I didn’t really know anyone. Do you know what though? It was so worth it because I found things I had been missing: freedom, a sense of self, happiness.





Since moving to Cleveland, life has been so much different. I’ve made awesome friends that I love dearly, discovered a love for a handful of new hobbies, and grown as person. I don’t even feel like the same Kaylah I was this time last year. It’s kind of funny actually, when I got my taxes done back in April I visited the same accountant that I used the year before, during our visit she mentioned multiple times how happy I seemed, how outgoing I was, and how I seemed like a new person. I was just tickled pink that someone I had only seen on a few brief instances could see such a huge change in me.

This is almost kind of strange to post. It’s personal. Even though this is my “personal blog”, I try to stay away from most subjects that are too private. But I really do think it’s important to talk about this. It’s obviously a huge part of my life, and moving was definitely life changing for me.

Anyway, here’s to continuing to grow as a person in my new city and anywhere else my life may take me!
xoxo

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66 comments

Michelle August 14, 2014 - 12:44 pm

You're an inspiration

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:12 pm

Thanks, Michelle! 🙂

Valocrat August 14, 2014 - 12:51 pm

You go girl! I'm on my own for the first time in around 12 years and totally get what you're saying. BTW, that pic of the lightning is amazing! Best of luck to you!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:12 pm

Thanks!!

Trisarahtops August 14, 2014 - 1:12 pm

So happy for you and pleased to see you're happy too!!
x

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:13 pm

Thanks so much, Sarah! 🙂

Rosie W August 14, 2014 - 1:24 pm

So happy for you 🙂 It even shows in your tone of writing above how much more at peace you are! Here's to many more happy 6-months in Cleveland x

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:13 pm

I'm so happy to hear that, Rosie! Thank you! 🙂

Ursula Antonia August 14, 2014 - 1:52 pm

Awe! Sometimes the biggest/scariest changes are the ones that provide a lot of personal growth. It's hard to see it in the beginning, but eventually we realize it was what's best in the long run. Congrats!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:14 pm

Definitely!! Thanks! 🙂

Shonagh Macleod August 14, 2014 - 2:02 pm

This is a lovely post, it's nice to occasionally be able to openly reflect on one's self and expose a little something to others. I know exactly how you feel, when I lived at home I felt constrained and it caused a lot of friction between me and my family that was quite painful. Then I moved away for university and, although I didn't immediately settle, I felt an incredible growth in who I was as a person and an independent adult. Sadly, I'm now currently living abroad with my boyfriend's family and it's put a lot of strain on us as a couple. I'm waiting to hear back about a job interview I had in another city, so fingers crossed we'll be out soon! Thank you for writing such fun posts, it's nice to know you're enjoying yourself

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:14 pm

Thanks!

Good luck with the job! Fingers crossed for ya! 🙂

Taryn August 14, 2014 - 2:51 pm

you're so awesome!! live it up, girl, we all deserve happiness! 🙂

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:15 pm

Thanks, Taryn!! 🙂

zoe August 14, 2014 - 3:14 pm

Ahhh this post warms my heart! I'm so glad this move/change has been so wonderful for you. It's incredible how scary moving to a new city can be–then you find your stuff, your favorite neighborhoods, restaurants, you meet new people, and you find out so much about yourself without all the baggage of a past life. Congratulations on your happy days 🙂

The What's In Between

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:16 pm

Thanks so much, Zoe!! Exactly, it's been so much fun settling it here and finding favorite things and meeting new people.

AlleyCatAlanna August 14, 2014 - 3:28 pm

Hooray! Congratulations on making differences where you saw fit. You do seem very happy & free & I hope every day is a new adventure. :3

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:16 pm

Aw, thank you so much!! 🙂

Molly Meador August 14, 2014 - 3:55 pm

That's so great. Moving is scary, but I long for the day when I move farther away from my home and be on my own. I imagine it'll be so liberating

-m.see
http://mollyseee.blogspot.com

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:17 pm

Thanks, Molly!

Hollands Reverie August 14, 2014 - 3:58 pm

Congrats! That's so brave, and I think it's so important to be brave. It leads to so many opportunities and possibilities!

http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:17 pm

Thank you! It certainly does. When one door closes, another opens!

Ashley Bishop August 14, 2014 - 4:06 pm

As a long time reader of yours, I can definitely see your transition into happiness. Thank you for blogging and allowing us to follow your adventures. =)

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:18 pm

Thats so great to hear! Thank you so much!! 😀

Tiffany August 14, 2014 - 4:41 pm

So happy for you! Thanks for sharing 😉

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:18 pm

Thanks, Tiffany!

loonyplatypus August 14, 2014 - 5:04 pm

Aww it's lovely to hear that you're having such a great time! Here's to many more happy months 🙂

Incidentally, have you seen the episode of 30 Rock where Liz goes to Cleveland with Floyd and discovers it's like a paradise? I always think of that when you talk about how great a city it is!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:19 pm

Haha, no, I haven't but Cleveland seriously is such an amazing city.

Jennifer Shaw August 14, 2014 - 5:18 pm

I am so happy for you! You seem so happy now. Best wishes for many more happy times ahead. 🙂

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:19 pm

Thank you, Jennifer.

Sarah August 14, 2014 - 5:57 pm

Congrats on all the beautiful details of life in your new city. 🙂 xo

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:20 pm

Thank you, Sarah! 🙂

Kwalison August 14, 2014 - 8:35 pm

Glad to hear that you are so happy with the changes you made in your live! I can only hope I can find the same amount of happiness like you did.

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:20 pm

Thank you! 🙂

Mindi Wooley August 14, 2014 - 8:35 pm

I'm so happy for you! It's amazing what a big dose of personal freedom can do right?! From a readers perspective, I started noticing big changes when you got yourself a vehicle and you've definitely changed a lot since then. As someone who is incredibly shy and self-isolated, I find it very inspiring to see how much you've come out of your shell over the years. I recently initiated a big life change for myself. I'm super scared about it, but looking forward to it because I know it's what I need to do in order to be happy.

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:22 pm

Thank you so much, Mindi! It's really fun to hear people say that, getting my license was definitely a huge deal, and a huge step in the right direction for me.

Good luck with your big change! 🙂

steph rivers August 14, 2014 - 8:47 pm

Great post. It's so cool to read about someone making a leap and finding so much happiness. Hope you enjoy many future adventures in Cleveland!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:22 pm

Thanks, Steph! 🙂

Elif August 14, 2014 - 8:52 pm

It takes guts to make huge changes and it's hard to come out of that comfort zone. You've come a long way for sure!! Thanks for bringing us along with you. And I am so happy that I've been a reader of your blog for over 2 years now. I feel like I know you and I'm inspired by you daily 🙂

http://chamomiledealer.blogspot.com.tr/

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:23 pm

Thanks for sticking around all these years! 🙂

Amy Louski August 14, 2014 - 9:27 pm

This post is great, Kaylah! We, your readers, love to hear that your life is going well and that you are happy. We have all noticed that you have stayed away from certain topics that your life (previous life) involved, and we understand that things get tough and you don't want to share your problems with the world. We get it. No one wants to put the tough parts of their life on blast and it is understandable.
We are just happy that you are moving forward with your life and are happy.

We all are definitely ready to read why your life is so great. Your pictures are lovely but words send the imagination into overdrive. We don't just want to see why life is good because we want to read about it, if you are willing to do so.

Keep doing what makes you happy, girl!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:24 pm

Thanks, Amy!

Candy August 14, 2014 - 10:08 pm

I've been reading your blog for a long time and I am so proud and happy about how happy you seem now. You're having such a great time and it really shines through in your blog posts! 🙂

Owl Girl | A London lifestyle blog

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:25 pm

Thank you so much, Candy!! 🙂

Derk August 14, 2014 - 10:58 pm

It seems odd to say this (cause I dont know you personally) but I can tell you've changed too! Its awesome seeing all your abandoned adventures, bike rides, and the like. Totally rad, total inspiration to get out and try some new scary things.

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:27 pm

Nah, that's not weird at all, that's really exciting to hear!!! 🙂

Marine August 15, 2014 - 1:29 am

I like personal posts 🙂 Yay for positive changes! I feel like getting your license and your car are what started it all and more good things have come your way since then.

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:41 pm

Oh totally! Thanks, Marine! 🙂

Alexandra August 15, 2014 - 8:06 am

I feel the exact same way about moving to New York – it was scary and hard but 100% worth it. I'm so glad you made the leap and it paid off. Everyone deserves a life they love!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:41 pm

Thanks, Alexandra! Seems like you're having one heck of a great time in NY too!

xabz Mukuba August 15, 2014 - 9:02 am

your lightning photo is amazing

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:42 pm

Thanks!

PeachSponge August 15, 2014 - 12:02 pm

This is so great and I am happy you are happy! I recently made a big decision to change career paths and I have never been happier, so I think I kinda know how you feel 🙂

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:42 pm

Thanks! Congrats on your career change. 🙂

Katzi Roman August 15, 2014 - 12:15 pm

I love this post because I'm kind of going through the same thing – moving out on my own for the first time (better late than never, right?!) and even though I'm kind of stuck in the bad part of a certain situation, I can feel myself blossoming and growing. Even though I have bouts of sadness where I get paralyzed with fear of the unknown, others have noticed a change for the better in me and I love it! It's that kind of encouragement that keeps me on the right track! Congratulations on this wonderful change! I'm celebrating with you! 🙂

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:43 pm

Oh heck yes, better late than never!! Thank you, congrats on your big change as well! 🙂

Shani Parkman August 15, 2014 - 1:43 pm

Thanks for sharing, it's nice to hear of people who take a big step in their lives such as this and it turns out the best thing for them, it's reassuring. Glad you're happy!

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:43 pm

Thanks, Shani! 🙂

finlin August 15, 2014 - 3:16 pm

Thank you so much for an awesome blog! You have given me so much inspiration and confidence in doing what I want. I am from Sweden and right now I can't remember how I found your blog but I am so happy i did and I have been following it for allmost three years.
Thank you for being you!
Hugs (kramar) from Lina in Sweden

Kaylah August 15, 2014 - 8:46 pm

Aw, thank you so much, Lina! Thanks for sticking around all these years! 🙂

Lostvestige August 15, 2014 - 11:55 pm

I think it's awesome you made that leap to make a change in your life! I feel like I can see some of your changes through your posts and your writing, you definitely seem happier and more outgoing. I've always been afraid of new situations and of talking to people, heck I'm the kind of person to race inside my house just at the mere thought of having to say hi to my neighbors! So I know it must have been scary to get out there on your own, but it looks like you are doing an amazing job, I think you are an inspiration for all the shy gals out there!

luzmaría moonandroses August 16, 2014 - 5:23 am

wow already? congrats, is good to know that you feel great, also you look very well

xo

agingriotgrrrl August 16, 2014 - 8:32 am

as someone who's been reading yr blog off & on for a while, i remember thinking that you seemed way too interesting to be in that tiny town, and wondering if you were gonna ever be able to explore that big bad world. so excited that you broke free. i know it's hard. i'm a wacky-looking-but-shy person too. it took me a while to learn that being shy doesn't = no fun, it's just different kinds of fun! and every time you challenge yourself, you get a little bit more free. congrats!

Michal Lynn August 17, 2014 - 10:22 pm

This is such a great post! I'm happy that you are so happy in your new place. Taking a leap is scary, but I've often felt like those times where you're kind of in between and forced to grow are some of the best times because it's all about finding who YOU are.

hellothisiskyle September 6, 2014 - 2:36 am

Hey I just found your blog and I've got to say, I'd love to hang out with you and Jeff sometime. I loved looking through your posts and seeing all the awesome places that are all around Cleveland. I'm new to the area and I came looking for more opportunity and to grow as an artist but so far I feel like I haven't really found my place. It would be really cool to shoot with you guys sometime. Ive been shooting for like ten years now and I am still learning new things all the time, I love it! Also- instant film is kind of an obsession of mine, I have to force myself not to buy more until I clear some space out of my (completely full) film fridge 😛

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