Finding Peace and Resilience in an Unexpected Place
I am sitting here at my computer feeling defeated, unmotivated, and tired.
Tired of the uncertainties in life, beaten down by all that we “thought” we did right, while still facing hard obstacles, and unmotivated because…
“What’s the point?”
“What’s the point of trying to fit into this society that feels so alien to us?
Nope! It is time for me to snap out of this yuckiness I am feeling.
We sometimes choose our lives and know the consequences, yet we make plans on the go.
Some things in life we don’t choose; we are forced or have to accept what feels uncomfortable.
This is where resilience comes into play.
After this recent layoff, we packed up everything and headed to Idaho. We had no idea where we would stay or what would happen next.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was on our bucket list to explore in the U.S. It was also four hours from Seattle.
Dave had a few promising interviews in the works that were in their final stages. We knew for sure that one would come through.
Our family planned to visit Idaho, hear some good news about a job, and then head back to ship our items to our new home.
Not only were we sure in our hearts, but we kept seeing Colorado tags EVERYWHERE. When we arrived at our Airbnb in Coeur d’Alene, I sat in our upstairs family room and looked out the window. As soon as I looked out, a truck came by with Colorado tags clear as day.
This also happened while we were awaiting our last job offer. We were in Washington, D.C., and saw Washington State tags all the way across the country. This was a sign, we believed it, and we got the job!
So, we thought the same would happen again. We were hopeful!
No way was this the case. Both companies said no. It was heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and made us lose our faith and belief.
This is where that good ’ole resilience came in handy again! This was our opportunity to travel across the country and see things we never thought we would be able to see until we were both retired.
The decision was made. We looked at each other and said, “Are we really about to do a road trip across the country with a toddler?” We nodded yes, and off we went.
Coeur d’Alene is a beautiful city and a great place to kick off our trip. We stayed in a neighborhood with the locals instead of a resort. It is hard to get a feel for a place when you are staying within the resort or hotel sections of the city.
The United States is huge, and each city has its own unique culture that is definitely worth exploring.
The feeling of interacting with locals in the grocery stores, at the post office, and at the local pet store is an experience we know so well and always changes our thoughts about a place. It also changes us as people.
What we noticed while staying in this local neighborhood was how free and happy the people seemed. They were mostly blue-collar, some owning businesses, and some working at the many hospitals nearby.
They owned houses, moms were home with their kids during the day, and people were off the roads by 5 pm to spend time with family. It felt like a place we’d been seeking for so long.
No one looked exhausted from working an IT job all day; there were no “every other car is a Tesla,” and no rushing to get from one place to the next. I thought to myself, “So this is the kind of American town we’ve been told to avoid because we wouldn’t be accepted.”
This was not the case. People were friendly, our kiddos found friends to play with on the playground, and we felt our stress levels go from a 10 down to a 5 (job search stress never goes away).
We got to try huckleberry pie for the first time! It was the best thing I’ve tasted in a while. This set us off to try more huckleberry items: Huckleberry Cider, Huckleberry Tea, Huckleberry Jam, and Huckleberry Honey. Mmmmm Mmmmm!
After visiting this lovely place, we decided to set off and explore more small towns, an adventure that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
Life always finds a way, and finding and believing can breed resilience.
Here’s how our resilience kept us going even through the pain.
We kept moving even when we felt defeated.
I sat at that computer exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning everything, but I didn’t stay stuck in the “what’s the point?” spiral.
We accepted the uncomfortable parts of life we didn’t choose.
Instead of pretending everything was okay, we acknowledged the hard stuff and faced it head-on.
We packed up and left with no guarantees.
Headed to Idaho with nothing but hope, faith, and a trunk full of uncertainty, and still kept going.
We stayed hopeful even when signs felt like promises.
Following the Colorado license plates, believed good news was coming, and let ourselves hope.
We survived the heartbreak of the “no.”
Two companies said no. It hurt. It shook our faith. But it didn’t stop us.
We chose adventure when stability disappeared.
Instead of collapsing under disappointment, we moved forward with our road trip.
We found beauty in the unexpected.
Coeur d’Alene became a reminder that peace, community, and slower living still exist.
We learned that acceptance can calm the chaos.
Noticing how locals lived, simpler, slower, and with purpose, made our stress levels drop.
We explored even through fear-mongering.
Keeping in mind that everyone’s experience is different, we didn’t let a negative comment about us exploring a new place stop us from visiting. We even stayed in a local neighborhood.
We let joy exist even during hard seasons.
Huckleberry pie, friendly neighbors, kids making friends, small-town charm; we allowed ourselves to feel joy even when life wasn’t “figured out.”
When has resilience found you? What gives you motivation to keep going when times get tough?
From One Mama to Another
If you’re in a season where things aren’t going as planned, take a breath. You’re allowed to feel tired and still keep going. You’re allowed to be unsure and still be strong. Resilience isn’t loud, but it is built in the quiet moments you choose to try again. ❤️
Winging It Dishes
This week’s dish is simple and cheap, which is sure to make dinnertime less dramatic.🙂
15 minutes from start to finish. THAT’S IT! And the best part, all items have been reduced. I am always on the hunt for cheaper eats!
- Tri-Color Coleslaw (I prefer dry slaw) – $0.99
- Hamburger bun of your choice (I love potato or brioche buns, they add a bit of sweetness)
- Cheese of your choice (I use Swiss or Cheddar)
