Eight years here

If you blink, you might miss the journey. I blinked and somehow ended up in Atlanta for eight years and counting.

When I first arrived on November 11, 2017, I couldn’t have imagined what these years would hold. I came here chasing change—new work, new community, new meaning—but what I found was more complicated and more rewarding than any plan I could’ve made. This city tested me, stretched me, and ultimately shaped me.

There are not enough words or enough photos to capture everything these years have held. My time in Atlanta is too layered for a single story. It’s become its own anthology—two books, countless essays, and chapters still unfolding. I can still picture those early scenes: long walks through Piedmont Park, my apartment on Ponce Place, the hilarious Uber rides, and far more work hours than I care to admit.

But the Atlanta stories also stretch beyond the city including enlightening day trips and full-on vacations that offered temporary escape from the delightful absurdities that made me fall in love with Atlanta in the first place. So many people have shaped these pages—friends, colleagues, mentors, and the ones who turned ordinary days into unforgettable ones. They’re part of every version of me this city has seen.

Scrolling through my camera roll searching for memories, something hit me hard: I’ve taken far more pictures for work than of the people I love. Job sites, events, and projects outnumber the snapshots of dinners, laughter, and quiet, meaningful moments. That realization stopped me cold. It’s a mistake I don’t want to repeat.

After so much loss in life—parents, pets, partners, and friendships—I’ve learned this simple truth: you will always wish you had more photos of the people who matter. More evidence of joy. More reminders that love was here.

So this year, I’m celebrating differently. I’m grateful for Atlanta—the traffic, the trails, and the thunderous July storms—and for the people who have made my life here richer and fuller. Thank you for the laughter, the work, the friendship, and the grace through it all.

Eight years later, I’m still here—still learning, still growing, and still proud to call this city home.