Three Years in Dallas: A Life in Motion

Three Years in Dallas: A Life Rewritten

When I moved to Dallas three years ago, I didn’t know what I was walking into. I had momentum, sure—but no map. No community. No rhythm. Just a quiet hunger to grow and a willingness to show up.

It started with a paddle.

I joined a local Meetup group for pickleball, not knowing a single soul. I borrowed gear, learned the basics, and kept coming back. Week after week, I found myself surrounded by people who shared not just the court, but their stories, their laughter, their grit. Eventually, I wasn’t just playing—I was helping run events, coaching beginners, and hosting dedicated nights for newcomers. That little paddle became a key to something bigger: a community I helped build from the ground up. And as I got better, I started playing everywhere I could—different courts, different cities, chasing the game and the connections it sparked.

But the transformation wasn’t just social—it was physical.

Dallas got me moving. I dropped weight, gained energy, and discovered a new kind of discipline. I cycled through phases: Jiu Jitsu taught me humility and control. Round 9 pushed my limits. Running gave me solitude and stamina. I didn’t just run through the city—I explored trails like Addison Les Arcs, the Katy Trail, and the breathtaking loops around White Rock Lake. Each run stretched my distance and my mindset. And now, Orange Theory keeps me sharp, pushing past plateaus with every class.

Somewhere along the way, I found myself drawn to nature—not just for movement, but for stillness. I’ve hiked through 14 different Texas state parks, each one offering a new trail, a new view, a new breath of clarity. Those hikes became rituals. And in the quiet, I picked up a camera. Birding photography started as a curiosity and quickly became a passion. I learned to spot, to wait, to capture fleeting moments in flight. It taught me patience, presence, and how to see the world through a slower, more intentional lens.

Three years in, I look back and barely recognize the version of me who first arrived. I’m stronger. More grounded. More connected—to my body, my community, and the wild spaces that keep me curious. Dallas didn’t just give me a place to live. It gave me a lifestyle worth living.

And now, with new challenges on the horizon and deeper roots beneath me, I’m ready to evolve again—stronger, sharper, and more intentional than ever.