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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Living Well can help with chronic conditions Missing teen clue search fruitless 10 things to know for Friday Education Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Willow Wind inquiry forms now available District to host parent meeting Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect New Ashland eatery features Basque cuisine Learning on the job Ashland restaurant featured on cable TV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi Q5 Politics and elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets Volunteer award, State of City address presentations Tuesday City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address State News Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Two new wolves confirmed in Southern Oregon, state reviewing status of northeastern packs State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Geraldine "Gerry" Smith Death Notices Lily Hearn May Antonucci Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Raiders, at last Hawks keep streak alive, top Trail Blazers Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Seahawks consider the Gronk factor High school Raiders, at last Ashland swimmers sweep three-way Grizzly spirit Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Southern Oregon University Raiders, at last Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Southern Oregon zeroes in on first men's soccer coach Howard named NAIA coach of the year Opinion Latest Stories Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Herb Rothschild Jr: Thoughts on the drug war Our View: Missing teen dilemma Editorial Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Our View: Missing teen dilemma Our View: Making room for all Our View: Honor well deserved Our View: Whole lotta shakin' ... Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Guest opinions Guest Column: A Koch and bull story Guest Opinion: A New Year’s resolution you can keep: starting “the conversation” Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Guest Opinion: The relevance of socialism in the U.S. Herb Rothschild Jr.: Support single-payer Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Share your love poems at Downtowne Coffee House Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory Community blog: Applegate Library offers self-publishing workshop Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Music Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore Visual Art Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Whiplash' pounds out a riveting beat Movie review: ‘Mortdecai’ majorly misses the mark Movie review: Aniston’s performance is the icing on ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Cake’ showcases Jennifer Aniston at her best Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Living Well can help with chronic conditions The ultimate spiritual experience of samadhi Amy Gehrt: Change is hard but sometimes necessary Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Calendar: Monday, Feb. 2 ... Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Thoughts on the drug war ... Calendar: Monday, Feb. 2 ... Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Thoughts on the drug war ... Amy Gehrt: Change is hard but sometimes necessary Comment By Amy Gehrt More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 7:47 am By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 7:47 am » Social News Change is hard. Most of us struggle with it at times ­— some more than others. And then there are the lucky few who seemingly thrive on change, charging into the unknown full steam ahead. I wish I could say I fell into that last category, but I’ve always been someone who stubbornly resists change ... sometimes, it seems, with every fiber of my being. When I decided to buy new kitchen rugs last year, I carefully contemplated countless selections in several stores. I even bought a handful of them, only to place each on the floor and ultimately decide it just wasn’t right. Months later, I finally found rugs that I felt suited me and my kitchen, and came in the sizes I wanted. But even then, I kept the tags on for a few days and didn’t walk on them — just in case I changed my mind. So perhaps no one was more surprised than I was when I announced last week that I had accepted a new job and would be moving more than a thousand miles away in a few short weeks. Sure, everyone knew I’d always dreamed of living somewhere warm, and Florida, with its plentiful palm trees and enough water, sandy beaches and sunshine to satisfy even a lifelong water baby such as myself, had long been my destination of choice. Yet despite my well-known hatred of being cold, I have spent my entire life in Illinois. It’s where much of my family has always lived, and many of my friends, so it was home. I admired people who just picked up and moved across the country, or even across the world, but I couldn’t imagine doing that for myself. As the years went on, however, my tolerance for the cold diminished daily, while the sadness I felt upon seeing the summer wane — and the pool at my gym drain — grew more pronounced. And, for me, last winter’s ridiculously cold, insanely snow-packed polar vortex from hell was the tipping point. I realized that I didn’t have to live somewhere where I was miserable many months of the year, because the only thing holding me back was myself. So I started looking at the job boards, concentrating solely on the Sunshine State. And, when the perfect opportunity presented itself, things moved at a whirlwind pace. Before I knew it, I had a new job in a brand-new city: a place where I didn’t know a single soul. Yet, while planning the move itself has been overwhelming, for perhaps the first time in my life, I feel truly ready for change. I remember being so scared right before I went to college, even though I was moving less than an hour away. I remember crying in parking lots with friends as our usual partings of “See you tomorrow” were replaced by “See you on fall break,” and I can still vividly recall the tearful goodbye with my parents outside of my new dorm as they prepared to give me a taste of the freedom I’d been stubbornly demanding for so long — a freedom which I suddenly found terrifying. However, as the countdown to my cross-country move draws down to days, that overwhelming feeling of fear is nowhere to be found. That’s not to say it’s all smooth sailing. The stress of getting a house ready to go on the market, finding a new place to live, figuring out what to take and a way to get it there (all while still working my current job) has certainly resulted in some sleepless nights — partially because I’m trying to get so much done in such a short amount of time, and partly because my overactive brain keeps worrying about the minutia of the move. And I know there will be plenty of tears ahead. Even when you know you’re making the right choice and you’re really looking forward to what’s ahead, it’s hard not to look back at what you’re leaving behind, too. The house you fell in love with and just had to have — then cursed countless times over the next decade, but still loved with all of your heart because it was your very first home, and so many good memories were made there. The many items accumulated over a lifetime that can’t possibly make the thousand-plus-mile trek. But the hardest part, by far, is always the goodbyes. If I could take all of the people I love with me, I would. (And believe me, I’m trying. I’ve already informed several friends and family members they are moving to Florida, too.) I have so many amazing people in my life that I cherish, and I will miss them greatly. The thing about goodbyes like this, though, is that they’re temporary. Just as I’ve been able to keep in touch with loved ones who have moved away, I’ll be able to stay in touch with those I now will leave. And, thanks to the fact that I’m moving pretty close to paradise, I already have people promising to visit soon. And, in the interim, rather than being envious every time one of my Florida friends sends me a photo of the beach while I’m digging out my car from the latest snowstorm, I’ll be the one lounging poolside or learning to surf in the middle of winter. Now that’s what I call living the dream. Pekin Daily Times city editor Amy Gehrt may be reached on Twitter at @AmyGehrt. The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Pekin Times. By Amy Gehrt More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 7:47 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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