Why I Chose Columbus, Georgia and How a Birthday Surprise Turned Into a Life Decision
If you would have told me a year ago that a birthday trip would quietly change the direction of my life, I probably would have laughed and asked if you were being dramatic.
Turns out…you would have been right.
I’ve been working remotely since 2020, and in 2022 I moved into a role that has actually been remote since its very beginning...long before remote work became popular. I’ve also been with the same company for nine years, which means stability has never been my challenge.
Clarity was 🫣
Because when your job can go anywhere with you, eventually you have to decide where you actually want to go 🌏
For a long time, Georgia wasn’t really on my list in a meaningful way. When I thought of Georgia, I thought of Atlanta and Shellman, a small town where my grandparents lived. Shellman holds a very special place in my heart. It’s where my family is rooted. It’s also where my grandma lived before she passed away in 2020. One of my biggest regrets is not being closer to her before she died 🥺
Life was busy. Distance felt normal. And then suddenly…there wasn’t any more time to fix that.
My mom moved to Georgia in 2013 to be closer to her parents, and later began working in Columbus as a Shelter Director. Twelve years went by faster than I ever expected.
Then, in June 2025, I flew to Columbus for the very first time to execute surprises for my mom, for her birthday 🛫🎂
She had no idea what I planned.
And that trip quietly changed everything.
Until that moment, I had only known Georgia through Atlanta and Shellman. I truly had no idea what Columbus was like. But during that visit, I finally got to see the city my mom had been working in for years and I was surprised in the best way.
It was beautiful😍
The riverwalk. The energy downtown. The small businesses. The walkable areas. The way the city felt alive without being overwhelming. There were things to do, places to explore, and a sense of community that felt genuine and unforced.
At some point during that visit, I caught myself thinking:
Oh… I could actually live here🤔
Not just visit.
Not just pass through.
Live.
When I went back to Texas, that thought didn’t go away. It stayed with me quietly. I didn’t rush it. I didn’t announce anything dramatic. I just started paying attention to what my heart was leaning toward.
And then, in August 2025, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It wasn’t one of those moments where the world stops spinning. It was quieter than that. Heavier. Clearer.
I didn’t suddenly decide to move because I was scared.
I decided to move because I finally understood what mattered most.
I had already spent years building a career that allowed me flexibility. I had been faithful, consistent, and committed to my work for nearly a decade. I had done the hard part, building stability💪🏽
Now God was gently showing me what I was meant to do with it 🙏🏽
Being closer to my mom stopped being something I talked about “one day” and became something I prayed about now.
I wanted proximity. I wanted presence. I wanted to stop letting distance decide how involved I could be in the lives of the people I love.
So I did what I always do when I take something seriously... I started researching🧐
Cities. Neighborhoods. Cost of living. Community life. What it actually feels like to live in Columbus instead of just visiting it.
That’s when I found Make My Move📦
And I remember smiling when I did 😃
Because by that point, I wasn’t looking for a reason to move to Columbus.
I already had one 😏
Finding Make My Move felt like confirmation, not persuasion. It validated a decision I had already been prayerfully and intentionally making. It aligned with what I was seeking: a city that invests in people who choose to build real lives there, not just temporary ones.
What excites me most about living in Columbus is the life I get to build beyond my laptop.👩🏽💻
I’m excited to explore the riverwalk without a return flight booked. I’m excited to find my favorite coffee shop and become embarrassingly loyal to it. I’m excited to try fitness classes, support local businesses, attend community events, and show up even when I don’t know anyone yet, because that’s how community actually starts.🤗
Most of all, I’m excited to be near my mom again 👩🏾🤝👩🏽
After now thirteen years of living in different cities, being able to share ordinary moments, quick dinners, spontaneous visits, small wins, and quiet support; feels like a gift I don’t want to delay anymore.
I’ve lived in the Allen/Plano, Texas area for the past nine years, and before that in Ypsilanti, Michigan for twelve. Those places shaped me. They helped me grow. But Columbus feels like something different.
It feels like a full-circle moment 😭
A birthday surprise turned into a vision. A quiet season of remote work turned into freedom. A painful loss taught me what I don’t want to miss again. A diagnosis clarified my priorities. A city I hadn’t even considered became the place I now feel called to build my life.
I believe deeply that God orders our steps, sometimes gently, sometimes unexpectedly, and sometimes through something as simple as a last minute flight and a birthday hug.
And now, here I am💃🏽
Ready. Prepared. Grateful. And very excited about this next chapter in Columbus, Georgia.
Also…still very serious about finding the perfect local coffee shop. Some goals remain sacred ☕️
And how fitting to move here on MY birthday week! 🙌🏽🥹🤍🥳
