Bloom Where You Are Planted

The title for this piece came to me during the night. I know it's not original, but every time I would slightly wake, it was all I could hear...bloom where you are planted. So I knew I had to write about this right away. As many of you know, I've had quite a journey, moving around from place to place following my heart's desire and new opportunities, but life has a funny way of teaching us valuable lessons when we least expect it.

Last year, when I moved to Maryland, although I did so of my own free will, it was not the location of my choosing. I moved because I was asked to move for a job that, when I arrived, didn't pan out. I was so sure I would get the job that I bought a condo...and then boom! Stuck in a place I didn't choose - or even know...with no way out...talk about life throwing you some curveballs!

I won't lie. At first settling in Maryland was a bit of a challenge. I had left the sunny warmth of Florida, for cold, damp, dreary, January Maryland. All I could think about was how could I move back to Florida. I never even tried to commit to Maryland because all I could think about was Florida.

When I left my job this past August, I did so because I needed the freedom to decide what I really wanted to do. I didn't want the responsibilities of a job keeping me someplace I didn't want to stay. Now, with the freedom to literally go anywhere I wanted, I realized that I'm not ready to leave Maryland quite yet. Florida will always be there.

I came to realize that no place is inherently good or bad, better or worse. It's all about what we make of it, just like everything else in life. Maryland might not have been my first (or 10th) choice, but it turns out, it's where I needed to be all along. I have met the most amazing and incredible people here, and have had fun finding my way around and experiencing everything this fantastic area has to offer.

My lesson is - embrace the unexpected. Life has a way of surprising us, and sometimes the very thing we resist can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Maryland has become my unexpected haven, a place where I've found growth, community, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Remember, it's not about where you are; it's about how you choose to bloom. So wherever life plants you, dig your roots deep, spread your branches wide, and let your unique beauty shine. Who knows what incredible experiences and opportunities may be waiting for you right where you are?

Sometimes the most beautiful flowers can bloom in the unlikeliest of places.

#BloomWhereYouArePlanted #SunflowerMagic #EmbraceChange #GoHappyYourself