It’s not you, it’s me. We’ve just grown apart, and I think we need some time. I need some space. You haven’t done anything wrong, I just need to focus on myself. I love you, but I have to leave. I think a classic breakup line is the best way to break it to your hometown you've decided to move away. It was the right place, but the wrong time.
It’s never easy to pull out of the driveway and wave goodbye to my family, but at the other end of my drive, is my second home. The journey is tinged with a strange mix of excitement and anxiety, that’s how I know I’m doing the right thing. Nothing worth having comes easy, so it won’t be comfortable. I like to think of moving away to school as a bit of a breakup. My hometown was like a good boyfriend, but something was missing. I was comfortable, I was safe. Life was easy, and my future was predictable, but I didn’t like that security. I needed to explore what else was out there. I said goodbye, and went on my way.
Going away to school is not for everyone, but it was for me. Everything I believed at face value was challenged. I was immersed with people who thought differently and believed in different things than me. I learned that I only supported my only beliefs once I heard everyone else’s side. I changed and grew in ways I never expected. I think for most people, that's true. You realize all these new things about yourself and then there is no going back. You want to know more and learn more.
Without realizing it, I had grown apart from home. I wanted different things, I wanted bigger things than I ever thought I would. It is so good to be thrown from your comfort zone. Thanks to that same town, I know I will never be alone. I will always have people on my team supporting me wherever I go. I will always have a place to come home to. I owe you a thank you, home. Thank you for always having summer baseball under fuzzy lights. Thank you for always having Waffle Cone Wednesday. Thank you for being comfort when it all gets too much, and thank you being a compass when I am lost in the grey.
I love you and I miss you, but I have to go. I have to do this for myself. You are an incredible corner of the universe, but the rest of the world awaits.
It’s never really goodbye, always see you later.
