Miles away from who I was

Back when I was 20, I packed up my life and left my hometown, chasing a dream I had for years — to move to Tampa, Florida.

When I first got to Tampa, everything felt so new and exciting. The weather was perfect, the palm trees were adorable, and don’t even get me started on the ocean. As exciting as it all was, it was also a little overwhelming — in the best way. For the first time, I was completely on my own, figuring out a whole new life and stepping into a completely new version of myself.

I stayed in Florida for about a year, but life wasn’t as glitz and glam as I imagined. It was a lot more expensive than I realized, and reality hit a little harder than expected. From there, life took me to Dallas, Texas — a place I never imagined myself living.

Why did I move here... its a long story your going to have to ask me about that one ;)

Anyways, I liked Dallas, but I didn’t love it. For starters, my car was stolen in Austin… not exactly the best first impression, and second — it is HOT. I love warm weather, but that heat was something else. During that time, I was also traveling quite a bit and renting my apartment out as an Airbnb, which ended up being very successful for me :)

Five years later, I decided it was time to move home… well, close to home. I moved to Chicago in October 2025, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Now I live close to my friends, and even closer to my family.

I needed those years away to truly find myself and grow into the person I was meant to be. When I look back at who I was in Florida compared to who I am now, it’s almost unrecognizable. I went from being in a very masculine energy — thinking I had to do everything on my own, being hard-headed and insecure — to becoming someone I absolutely love and adore.

Now, I feel like the most feminine version of myself. I take care of myself, I go to the gym, I embrace my natural features, and I love myself in a way I never did before.

I came back knowing myself better — knowing what I want, what I don’t, what feels right, and what doesn’t. I came back with experiences that shaped me, lessons that grounded me, and a sense of confidence I could have never built if I stayed in the same place forever.

I don’t regret a single move I made.

Not the impulsive decisions, not the hard days, not even the moments where I felt completely lost — because I promise you, not every day was easy. But every single one of those moments led me back here… to a version of myself that feels more aligned, more at peace, and happier than I’ve ever been.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone, it would be this: move out of your hometown and try something new. Create a life somewhere else, even if it’s temporary. If you end up coming back, that’s okay — I did !! Just give yourself the chance to figure out who you are.

Sometimes leaving is exactly what you need.

If I can do it, you can too.

xoxo,

Alora

Here are some photos of me exploring my new life 💗