Well it’s been four weeks since I moved back to Michigan and it’s been a nonstop flurry of movement, thoughts, emotions, bike rides, networking, learning, laughing, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Living in Detroit feels familiar yet foreign. I know most of the streets and businesses downtown from my time working and playing here, but now that I live here I have questions like, “where is the best dry cleaner” and “I wonder if there’s a bulk spice store near by”, you know, life things. I’m looking forward to getting comfortable with my new neighborhood and laying down some roots.

On day one of our fellowship, a ropes course guide challenged us to grow our comfort zone by stepping outside of it. I took his advice to heart. I walked across the most terrifying ropes that day, I started a dance party at a club the following week, then I took the lead at a client meeting, and did my laundry on time. While some of these might seem less important others, they all go to the two themes dressing my transition: MOMENTUM & STAYING CLASSY.

Focusing on the above themes has imbued me with confidence to accomplish the above, and its also just permeated my everyday. I speak and behave more confidently and the more I practice these themes, the less barriers I see in front of me. This is a constant process though, just because I took initiative once, doesn’t mean I always will in the future. I will do well to remind myself that if I’m not moving forward, I’m either stalling or worse, going backward. FULL SPEED ADHEAD.

This is such a contrast from the past three years in grad school, where I constantly second guessed my abilities and lacked confidence to face problems head on. What a relief.

I’m excited to see what happens as I get more comfortable with myself and the new/old city.