Farewell: Leaving Austin

Today marks a poignant juncture in my life—13 years spent in Austin, and an even more encompassing 29 years within the embrace of Texas. An attempt was made to depart four years ago, but that endeavor lasted merely a day before the magnetic pull of Austin drew me back. In retrospect, I am profoundly thankful for this twist of fate, for within its enigmatic design, I stumbled upon love. This serendipitous encounter occurred during an Uber ride, an inconspicuous event that would go on to revolutionize my existence. As I reflect, I’m acutely aware that this providence altered the trajectory of my pandemic experience. Love became the anchor that steadied my ship through tumultuous waters.

My formative years, my twenties, were woven into the fabric of Austin. Here, amid the city’s vibrant streets and eclectic energy, I absorbed valuable life lessons. Yet, standing at the threshold of my thirties, a symphony of new stirrings orchestrates change within my mind, body, and soul. A clarion call reverberates from my soul, urging me toward transformation. This realization, liberating in its essence, entwines itself with threads of trepidation within my mind. The cacophony of questions emerges: Where is my destination? What path shall I tread? Whose faces will grace my journey? The world pirouettes in perpetual evolution—am I to stagnate amidst its rhythm? Can I dare remain unaltered by the world’s ceaseless cadence? Is comfort’s embrace, its companion complacency, a haven or a cage? Can I continue frequenting the cherished grocery store, exchanging smiles with the familiar barista, traversing well-worn pathways?

A dormant unease murmurs in my belly, a manifestation of energy longing to be stirred. The moment my partner and I chose to sever our ties with Austin, a fervent surge ignited within me—a blaze of resolve. This fervor, this ember of determination, fuels my readiness for what lies ahead, even if shrouded in the veil of uncertainty. Within the span of six weeks, the sands of time have counted down, and as this period reaches its culmination today, I find myself standing at the crossroads of a remarkable odyssey. This interval has been nothing short of transformative. The decision to embrace change has nurtured my growth, granting me an opportunity to burgeon in ways previously unimagined.

Today marks my farewell to Austin—an ending, yet also a prologue. While the contours of our future locale remain undefined, one certainty stands firm: Austin, a nurturing cocoon for so long, has relinquished its claim as my dwelling place. This transition has bestowed upon me a cascade of tears, each droplet a tribute to the gratitude I bear. Why forsake a city that has cradled me with benevolence? The answer, wrought in the language of my soul, resounds: I am ready to unfurl. I comprehend that growth’s tapestry is intricately woven with the threads of change. To evolve is to be in motion, to dare to stand on the precipice of the unknown and take that step.