The house that I grew up in will be a part of me, forever and always. It has left a very special mark on me like nothing else could. 5, 10, 15 years from now: I will look back and remember all of what that house brought me and all of the steps that it took with me as I grew older.
That house was the place where I took my first ride on a bike, the first time I swung on a swing set, the first time my mom brought a puppy home for my brother and me, my first... everything. It was the place where I was first old enough to understand that nothing is perfect, and it was the place where I first learned that no matter how hard we try, some things just simply cannot be fixed. My house was the place where my Dad and I talked for hours about life. He used to tell me that no matter how hard something seems at one time, you can overcome anything with a little effort. That house was the place where I learned that I was capable of that, no matter how scary life may have seemed at one point. That house gave me the spots to hide when I needed to be alone and the places outside when I needed a breath of fresh air. It gave me so much, and sometimes, I took that for granted.
Without that house; the rooms in it, the specific places that I would go in it for a little peace and tranquility - I don't know where I would be. It may sound a little stupid saying it out loud or even reading it for that matter, talking about what a single house can do for a person, but it really isn't all that stupid. All of what that house was is a huge part of what has brought me here today. It taught me to learn, to grow, and to realize that mistakes occur. It also taught me to let go, no matter how painful, because the truth is if you don't, you'll never achieve anything in life. Let's face it, a lot of us have been guilty of this. I have been one to hold on to something far too long than I should have and we all know, it gets us absolutely nowhere.
Leaving that place of security was extremely difficult and at the same time, weirdly comforting. It was like I was moving on from a huge chapter in my life and wiping the slate crystal clean. I was finally able to let it all go and start fresh, no strings attached. I would be able to move to a new place and start over. It all sounded pretty good, except there were quite a few things making it not so easy to do.
As I walked through that empty house one last time, I realized it wasn't empty at all. I walked inside each and every room before I closed the front door for the last time and remembered. I remembered the reasons why I was so happy that I was leaving it for good, and I remembered the reasons why I was so sad. The friends, the family, and those instances that only that house could give me. The dance parties, sleepovers, movie nights, dinners, Halloweens, Thanksgivings, Christmases, birthdays, and everything else that occurred in that house have shaped an extremely huge part of who I am today.
I want to thank the house that I grew up in for not only teaching me the dozens of much-needed lessons that have helped shape the person I am today, but also for giving me the laughs, the cries, the love, and moments of comfort I so desperately needed at times. To the house that I was extremely fortunate to have grown up in - I am forever grateful.
