Before the New Year, I made a list of my goals for 2017. Quite frankly, I haven't looked back on them until this past weekend, and revisiting the list has only made me realize that I haven't met many of my goals. For that, I am cutting myself a little slack, as I have been preoccupied with a lot of personal and family matters over the last eight months or so. However, I am also getting my butt in gear. The year isn't over, we still have a quarter of the time left, so I am going to take advantage of it. There is one goal that I have begun working towards, and I am very happy I did it. Zach and I joined the Surfrider Foundation. We have long been wanting to become involved in a volunteer group that shares in one of our greatest passions; our love for the ocean and beach. The Surfrider community engages in actively protecting, campaigning, and educating about our ocean and beaches, ranging from water testing programs to beach clean ups. The volunteer organization is broken up into chapters all across the country and our coastlines. Z and I knew that we had to join. We took part in our first volunteer activity this past month with the Miami Beach chapter, a dune restoration project. A few hours of clipping, shoveling, and dragging away branches from an invasive tropical plant in the Miami Beach dunes was exhausting, but we loved it! It feels great for the mind, body, and soul when you are doing something you love, and helps you, others, and our Earth. We look forward to the next volunteer opportunity in our local Chapter and becoming more involved in the local programs offered through the foundation. Check HERE, for opportunities at a beach near you. xo RCN
Homesick
I often get texts and messages mentioning how amazing it must be to live in Miami and how wonderful my life appears. True: the appearance is an accurate representation of my life. Everything I post is real and beautiful. I have many blessings, but after all, no one has a perfect life. Of course, there is always a behind the scenes. Even though my palm tree picture may look gorgeous, it doesn't mean that day was nearly close to being one of the best days of my life. Quite frankly, it may have been closer to the worst day.
Sometimes, I get pretty lonely being in Miami Beach. When I think about all my family and friends in NY, NJ and elsewhere, it can be tough. When I want to see my sisters or parents, not just talk over the phone, it really bums me out. Especially, when things aren't going quite so great and I need a hug or a shoulder to cry on. When things aren't going so hot for my loved ones, I want to be the shoulder to cry on. The simple every day things or weekly things that I often never thought twice about, have now left a vacancy in my life that is evident now that they are gone. Man, I even just really miss going to Wednesday Wing Night at our favorite NYC bar with our double date besties. I hate feeling left out of parties and other life events that Zach and I just can't make it to, either because it's tough getting a dog watcher or it's too last minute to hop on a plane. It can get expensive going back and forth a lot.
However, I will say, that if you ever do leave your hometown, count on lots of visitors if you move to a sunny beach town, like Miami. That is the bonus in all of this. We may not make it back to the city or Jersey as often as we would like, but we have had lots of visitors since we moved last April. It keeps us busy on the weekends and keeps me happy enough to not want to move back to NY, just yet ;) We enjoy exploring with family and friends when they come to visit us, or stop through town on business and other trips. This past week alone, we have had multiple visitors. It means the world to me that so many people have kept us company and taken the trip down, just to spend time with us in our new home.
Though, come Thursday, when the last visitor leaves and my only bestie that lives in Miami will head out of town to visit her family back in California, I can't help, but know I will likely have a pang of loneliness again, because I have the homesick bug. Who can relate, any tips to help? xo RCN
