It has been exactly one year since I moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland, OH. February 12. The journey I have been on since last Feb. 12 has been the most emotional, yet most rewarding journey I’ve experienced thus far.

When visiting LA that previous November, I found a career opportunity doing something I love (nutrition and fitness), and also fell in love with my best friend of 19 years (crazy how these things happen, right?). Three months later, I was on a plane, leaving the comfort of the home I grew up in for 25 years, to move to Los Angeles to pursue the life I’ve always dreamed of.

I cried literally the ENTIRE day I was moving. Before leaving my house, in the line at security, in the line to board my plane, on the plane, and so on. It was so emotional, leaving my friends and family, but I was also very excited to see my boyfriend Tim whom I hadn’t seen for 6 weeks. It was the most surreal feeling. I had no idea how California was going to be. Would I fit in? Would I feel at home? Would Tim and I get along living with each other? Would I ever make friends?

Fast forward one year. Everyone always told me to give it a year no matter what. That if I didn’t like it in LA after one year, then I could leave. But until then, I had to stick it out. I was crazy homesick until about the end of September. My parents, my brothers, and my nephews are my world. It was very hard for me, especially with having bipolar disorder. I went through a depressive episode for about 5 months in the summer, and being away from my family only made it worse. Luckily, I spent my year in LA building a support system through the people I met at Active Nutrition (some of us then opened our own wellness center two weeks ago, The Fit Lab). I’m really glad I gave it a year. I was almost ready to move back to Ohio in June and then again in September, but now that it has been a full year, I couldn’t be happier!

Getting out of your comfort zone is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Yeah, your comfort zone feels nice, but outside of it is where growth happens. One of the quotes that actually helped me to make my decision to move to LA was, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” And it is incredibly true. I met people I would not have otherwise met. I went places I would not have otherwise went. I never even thought the “city life” was for me, but it is! After one year, I truly feel like I belong here. my purpose is to change the nutritional habits of the world and help as many people as possible get healthy. I spend every single day making myself better and doing what I love. I have the sun, the ocean, the mountains, the desert- the life I’ve always dreamed of but never thought I would have.

I grew so much this past year and became the person I truly want to be. And I know that as the next few years go by, I will grow more and more into the person I want to be. Moving to LA changed my life, and although it was hard at first, I am incredibly grateful I had this opportunity and took it, because I love the life I live now.