Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....

So, one of the hardest things about this age is that as you grow older and try to find your niche in life, it's only natural that you will separate from friends you've made along the way or friends you've had since you were little.

Once again, this is happening in my life. It's a strange dichotomy...being happy for someone to start a new adventure while feeling a little torn apart inside that someone so close to you is leaving.

I happen to be one of those people who puts a lot of stock into her friendships...essentially, since I live away from most of my family, I have come to think of my friends as a sort of "urban family."

The question is, what do you do once you're apart? My dear friend Amanda is moving to D.C. to start a new adventure in her life, which gets me to thinking about what I want to take on and accomplish in my life. I'm young enough to have tons of adventures still in front of me, but old enough that I'm settled into a job that I love and friendships that make me feel comfortable. Of course, the obvious answer seems to be to take a chance while you're young enough to not have to look back.

I've only ever lived in Missouri, which seems a bit depressing, especially since there is so much world out there I want to see and experience. I have a newly discovered side of the family who I feel incredibly tied to and want to catch up on lost time...which is a tremendous argument for me to try NYC/east coast living for a while. Not to mention the fact that NYC is an incredible place culturally, creatively, and politically. Sorry, Missouri, I love you, but comparatively speaking... it's just not there.

So what to do...I have a life here and people here that I love, but I'm also hungry to discover the unknown. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Amanda for taking the leap. Good luck, babe. D.C. has a new shining star.