From New Jersey to Florida: A Journey of Independence, Sparkles, and Realizing I’m a Lesbian

Intro:

Hey there, I’m Lainey, and welcome to Life in Motion. To start things off, let me take you back a few years when I packed up my life and moved 800 miles from New Jersey to Florida at the age of 18. No family, no friends—just me, my excitement, and an unwavering belief that I could totally figure it out (spoiler alert: I didn’t).

But hey, it’s been quite the ride, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The Jersey Girl Who Wanted More
So, growing up in New Jersey was, to put it lightly, pretty wholesome. I had my family (we’re a little dysfunctional, but who’s isn’t?), a lot of love, and plenty of familiar faces. But let’s be honest, all that comfort made my anxiety go into overdrive. I loved my life in Jersey, but the thought of being stuck in the same place forever? Terrifying. I knew I had to break free.

I’d been talking about moving to Florida since I was 12, and I had big dreams of becoming a behavior therapist. Fast-forward to 18, and I was ready to make the leap. So, I moved to Florida with no plan, no structure, and no idea what I was doing. I just knew it was time to experience more of the world.

Learning to Be Free
The thing about freedom is—it’s addictive. I got here, and I started feeling that independence in a way I never had before. It was like a drug, and I couldn't stop. I made plenty of mistakes along the way (I’m not ashamed to admit it), but they were all part of the process. My second year in Florida? Let’s just say it involved a few breakdowns—one of which was cold-turkeying all my meds (not my brightest idea).

Then there were those back-to-back relationships I used as distractions, which is probably what some would call "not the healthiest coping mechanism." When the last one ended, I had another breakdown, crawled back to a psychiatrist, and got back on track. And now, in my third year here, things are going pretty damn well. I even got a new car—her name is Sheila, and she’s a total babe.

Finding Myself
Coming to Florida also gave me the freedom to explore another huge part of my identity—my sexuality. It all started back in high school when I had a crush on my Chemistry lab partner (I know, how cliché, right?). But growing up in a small town, where everyone knows everyone, I wasn’t sure if I could fully embrace it. The idea of exploring my sexuality felt... complicated.

Florida, however, was a fresh start. No one knew me here, and I could just be who I was without anyone making a big deal about it. Turns out, all those back-to-back relationships were with women—and that’s when I realized, yep, I’m definitely a lesbian. Not that there's anything wrong with being bi, but that was my truth. And hey, enough about the gay stuff for now—just wanted to get that out there.

Conclusion:

So here I am, three years into my Florida adventure, doing pretty well and figuring things out as I go. There’s still so much I don’t know—about myself, about life, about what’s next—but I’m content with where I’m at right now. This blog is my way of sharing that journey with you. It’s real, it’s messy, and it’s constantly in motion. But that’s life, right?

Thanks for joining me on this ride. Let’s see where it takes us!

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