Hello from gorgeous California! I’ve spent the past few days in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills and am now in Marina Del Rey for a conference for the next week.

Being in this part of the world reminds me of the last time I was here, which was a whole different experience…

Six years ago I moved to London to find a way to be happy. I had recently graduated from college and had planned to go to Northwestern to get a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. But as I was driving to Chicago to find an apartment in the city, in my gut, I knew it wasn’t the right choice for me so I turned the car around and went back to Ohio.

After working in a local hospital for a year, I decided to take what little money I had made and go to London for a few months. (I had been there a few years before and fell in love with it.)

I didn’t have anything lined up – besides a place to stay for a few weeks – and the hope of an internship opportunity, but besides that, I was pretty much winging it.

From September-December 2009, I lived in London and travelled around Europe while working at a part-time internship. I loved every minute of it, and felt like I was finally where I was meant to be. To top it all off, I started dating someone there. I felt like I was finally living my dreams.

However, in December, I ran out of money and could no longer be the 20-something in limbo, waiting for her life to come together. I had to come up with another plan – and that meant going back to the US first.

Right when I got back to Ohio, my family planned a trip to California for the Rose Bowl. I remember sitting on the gorgeous beach next to Santa Monica pier and feeling depressed. (How sad is that?!)

I was so upset about having to leave London, and I felt confused and unsure of which direction to go. It was one of the darkest periods of my life, and painful to feel certain that I was meant for something big but to not know how to actually make it happen or which direction to go.

When I finally stopped wallowing in my own pain and self-pity, I decided to take action and get back to the UK. (After all, the goal of living there was one of the only things I was sure of.) So I applied for a Master’s in Non-Fiction Writing, was accepted and in August 2010, I moved back to London, and the rest is history.

Today, back in Santa Monica by the same pier, I’m so grateful that I am where I am with my incredible British husband by my side. We’ve had the most amazing few days, and to be back in this place not only sitting on the beach where I sat before but staying at the hotel I’ve always dreamed of staying, spotting celebrities, enjoying gorgeous food, and spending time in stunning Beverly Hills – I feel more grateful than ever before.

I hope my story just goes to show that even if it “doesn’t work out” the first time, just keep moving forward towards your dreams. Life will open doors for you and if you take action and walk through them, your life can turn out better than you had ever dreamed.

Anything is possible, lovely.