going home, leaving home.

One year ago, I moved away.

I didn't move across town, or even across state; I moved across the US.

One year ago, I left my home —Ohio— and found a new one —Florida—

It was drastic. It was huge. It was the biggest change of my life. It was a moment that forever changed me as a person.

But this past week I went back home.

Hocking Hills, Ohio. The largest tourist spot (the only tourist spot?) in all of Ohio, and frankly an amazingly beautiful place. This is where I grew up. This was my home.

I learned some things last week.

Ohio is very warm.

Florida is warmer.

I missed the country.

Cicadas are gross.

I do indeed like fishing.

I do not indeed like taking fish off hooks.

But I'm surprisingly good at it.

Worms are also gross.

I've missed bonfires.

I've also missed Kroger.

And their donuts.

Ohio is just as humid as Florida.

Okay, not central Florida.

Allergies and Ohio countryside do not mix.

Hiking in the Hills will leave you sore for 3+ days.

Well, if you're out of shape like me.

I learned other things.

It is mentally and physically healthy to visit family (well, some family).

I missed my family. 

Ohio hasn't changed in an entire year.

Even the local Wal-Mart is the same.

However, a year can change people.

A year can change me.

It's possible to let go of friends.

It's possible to move on.

It is, however, impossible to have two homes.

Because one is home, the other is just a place.

It's okay to leave home and find a new one.

I found a new home.

Florida is home.

So many words came to me this week, so many overwhelming thoughts. Perhaps I was just overly emotional after such events in Orlando the week before, or perhaps these were all things that were hidden deep down that needed the right place, the right moment, the right time to surface. 

I drove along the old roads, visited old friends, went to old dear places, and the whole time a puzzling question was present in my head:

Had they changed, or had I?

I learned some things this past week.

I learned that some people aren't here to stay, some friends are only friends for a time, and that it's okay to leave a home and find a new one. For the past year I've felt restless, like I'm supposed to miss home but I wasn't sure where home was. Now I know that I didn't leave it behind, but that it's straight in front of me here, in Florida. 

This past year has been a year of change, and I can tell you, I changed drastically. But change isn't bad; sometimes, change is healing.

This trip was a journey to the past, but now I'm back and all I can do —all I want to do— is look forward.