Allow Me to Introduce Myself

I began this blog spontaneously on a Friday night. The life changes leading me to this point had been building up, and as mentioned in an earlier post, it all came to a head when my husband proposed we leave the US for a more relaxed and joyful lifestyle. This is my exploration phase, as I research, explore, and plan for a different future—one that I hope will be filled with wellness, more balance, and a slower pace.

I'm Kendra, originally from Canada, and currently residing in Dallas, Texas with my husband and our four children, whose ages range from 8 to 21. I am employed in retail technology at a prominent and large footwear store. My passion for fashion led me to study Fashion Marketing in college, and over the past 15 years, I've progressed through the industry, securing several dream positions along the way.

Recently, I haven't experienced the same sense of fulfillment from my career as I once did. Due to the recent standard return-to-work mandate affecting many corporate employees, I now have to be in the office three days a week. This results in me spending over three hours in traffic on those days, causing me to miss out on sleep, family time, and any opportunity for personal development. Sound familiar? I know I'm not the only one!

This, along with a recent personal loss, has caused my Major Depressive Disorder to intensify, and I have been having a hard time. I've been experiencing difficulty sleeping and crying most days. As anyone that struggles with depression knows, the disorder can be debilitating, removing all joy and making even the smallest everyday tasks hard to muster.

Drifting Towards Simplicity serves as my solution, a platform, a blog, a means to express my thoughts and assist my family and myself as we navigate the changes ahead. I'm embracing everything—living with less, adopting a slower pace, considering life elsewhere. It's all possible, and I'll use this blog to document our journey throughout.

This marks a significant change for my upper middle-class family. Our career achievements, especially in the past five years, have allowed us luxuries like designer handbags, frequent luxury travel, and plenty of 'stuff' for us and our children. While we've stayed within our financial means, we've lived significantly beyond our needs. I enjoy these things and am proud to show my children the world, which we plan to continue. However, we can simplify our lifestyle and still offer travel opportunities to our children.

What does this mean for us? We aim to live more simply, save diligently, and begin looking into living in a different location. I will prioritize my mental health by enrolling in an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) as a first step. Additionally, I will explore different career paths, remaining in retail but considering options that could offer better balance and opportunities for learning, as well as greater long-term flexibility.

I feel nervous, maybe a bit scared, but mostly excited—especially because my husband is joining me on this journey. As a classic middle child, I often find myself standing a little outside the norm, so when I mentioned this to my family, no one was surprised. So, let's dive in, explore, have fun, make some mistakes, and most importantly, let's change and grow.

I'm unsure if anyone will read this, except maybe my friend Emily, who noticed my recent activity on a new Instagram account (Instagram) and eagerly discussed ways to bring me back to Canada for our beautiful east coast summers.

If anyone out there wants to connect, please email me at driftingtowardssimplicity@gmail.com. I'd love to connect, make like-minded friends, and hear about your own stories of simple living and mid-life resets!