Changes

January is the month of new beginnings. The start of the year leads people to make resolutions for self improvement in a variety of forms. I may be a little late to the game, but I’m on the way to making a big change toward that end myself.  

Two weeks of rainy and/or cold weather gave me forced time indoors where I’ve been more reflective. With prospective guests choosing to stay home as well, I didn’t have any pressing work around the farm. During that time, I came to some conclusions about myself - specifically identifying the environment where I thrive. 

After a year and a half of living full-time in an RV on our farm, we’ve decided to move back into town. For those of you who don’t know, my husband Houston and I bought our property in the summer of 2017 while living in a high rise on Main Street in downtown Dallas. For two years Houston, our daughter Emilie and I made the commute several days a week to either work or check on the progress of work being done on the property. 

Then in August, 2019 we moved into a historic loft in downtown Corsicana. In the three years of living there, we made friends and connected with the community. Houston and I both serve on local boards and love Corsicana. It’s become home to this East Tennessee girl and South Georgia boy. 

When we moved to the farm in the summer of 2022, it was with the intent to see if it would suit us both to live on the property. Our architect made plans for a structure that would include an artists’ workshop as well as a small apartment for us. The plans are gorgeous, but we needed to know first if we’d be happy living on site where we work. 

The past 18 months have been eye opening.  During this time I’ve realized I’m more of an extrovert than I previously thought. It’s convinced me that I need more social interaction on a regular basis. So we’ve begun looking for somewhere to live in downtown Corsicana. We’re also exploring the possibility of someone living on our property full-time to help us with daily chores and projects - a work exchange of sorts.  

There are things I’ll miss about living at the farm - like witnessing glorious sunrises from our front door, walking over to the coop to gather eggs and seeing our livestock guardian dog Samson emerge from the early morning mist. I’m glad I’ve had this experience. It’s been good for me to stretch and grow. And now it’s time for a new adventure. I’m so grateful for a husband and business partner who is willing to do whatever it takes to help me be the best version of myself. 

This piece first appeared in Sherry’s column, Finding Myself in a Small Town, in the February 3, 2024 edition of the Corsicana Daily Sun.