Run Away

We’ve all heard that phrase, “Don’t run away from your problems,” but is that the real solution? There are always obstacles we face throughout life, some causing more struggle than others. So, do we run towards our problems? Do we face them head on? Or do we simply pivot in life and change our direction.  I’ve always been one who retreats when faced with difficult situations, but retreating is not giving up. It’s taking a situation for what it is, taking a step back internally and taking time to plan before acting.  Think “Live to fight another day.” Some battles may be lost, but the war can still be won.

This is for everyone struggling with their surroundings.  The ones that feel trapped, the ones searching for acceptance and independence. The ones that, just like me, felt like they don’t belong and can’t seem to find where they fit in. Whether we are Transgender, Cisgender, Straight, LGBTQIA…XYZ, we are all people who face similar problems.

I’ve known friends, family and people in our Trans community who are struggling due to where they live, peers, family, education and finances. At this point in my life I can simply say just move! Leave those struggles that surround you. Those situations that ultimately keep you feeling trapped and those surrounds that keep you from growing.

I know that this simple answer is not so easy to do. What I’m trying to convey is to have an open mind. Leaving your “problems” behind, moving or changing your environment can be a difficult feat to accomplish but so is continuing to stay in situations where there is no more opportunity to grow.

Either way change is different and ultimately inevitable. Take my story for example. Before I moved to Palm Springs, I visited for a vacation. Needless to say, I fell in love with the dessert and told my husband that I wanted to move there one day. Well, unforeseen situations happened only a few month later that lead us to moving. We were broke, tired, had no friends except each other but we had no choice and had to make it happen. Through the years we realized that moving was the best discussion we made. We are living in a place where awareness and acceptance of our Transgender life is getting better each day.

There ARE places, cities, towns for us to thrive in. We just must figure out our exit strategy.  Just like obstacles in life, it will be difficult but try and focus on the war and not the battles because once you win… You’ve won. Some may say that my move to Palm Springs was me running away from my problems. I say it was the next destination for my journey and is leading me to a happier life.