What Happened After My 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge?

Guest Post by Megan Jirele, Independent Journalist and Writer

I Didn’t Expect Grand Junction to Follow Me Home

What happens when you temporarily live somewhere and return back to the place you’ve always known? Do you regret the decision of jumping back on the plane that once dropped you off or are you ready to get back to your norm? Or, are you like me, left wishing you could have the best of both worlds?

Experiencing life for ten days in Grand Junction brought me more questions than answers, and as I’ve settled back into my “regular life” it’s been quite a thought- provoking topic of conversation, the ones I have with myself and with others. I’ve been finding myself overwhelmed in the best way because the new perspectives and questions keep rolling in like your favorite hot slot at the casino. One could say I’ve been gambling between the best ways to describe everything I’ve learned from this journey, but the truth is I’m still learning something new as the days go by. 

The most significant inquiry I’ve been consumed with is can ten days in a new place change your lens on the place you came from?

The Question Everyone Asked Me When I Got Home 

The number one question I’ve been asked since I’ve returned is, “So… what was it like?” My answer starts with me taking a deep breath and answering with, “Well, where do I start?” Because truly, how do I unpack ten full days of living a life I’d never lived before? It is almost like most people back home are expecting me to come back with a verdict, but it is so much more than a yes or no question. I usually share my day one realizations about how I was both anxious and excited, and how those feelings shifted throughout ten days. Some of my favorite topics are debriefing all of the firsts I got to experience, and the lessons I’d learned, not only about Grand Junction, but myself. I realized that sometimes the only thing standing between me and golden opportunities, is in fact, me. I have the tools to step out of my comfort zone and be okay, I just need to give myself permission. 

I shared that although I went in with zero expectations, I am surprised I liked Grand Junction as much as I did. Perhaps that is the beauty of knowing absolutely nothing about where you’re going, it is impossible to have any preconceived bias. Not to be an instant killjoy, but that is usually the first thing I tell people. My closest friends and family know I like being comfortable, in every sense of the word, so the surprised looks on their faces have not only been funny to see, but quite interesting. And these surprised looks are not because I or anyone else predicted I’d dislike Grand Junction, but because it is somewhere pretty different from what I normally gravitate towards. I’m usually a beach and boat kind of girl, but now I have a soft spot for the mountains.

My favorite reaction thus far was one from a friend of mine, Olivia. I had bought her a few postcards and when I brought them home to her and showed her pictures she said a sentence I will never forget. “This is literally my dream vacation, I’ve wanted to go to Canyonlands forever!” That conversation has stuck with me as the gratitude I have for my experience is constantly overflowing, and it has completely affirmed the realizations I’ve had since coming home. My ten day test is quite literally someone’s bucket list destination. 

The Strange Thing: I Started Comparing

As I’ve now been home for a few weeks, it has given me a lot of time to think about my journey through a lens that was still developing when I first came back. I do think it is human nature to compare and contrast, so the constant analysis has been ever present.

I’ve realized the access to outdoor opportunities in Grand Junction filled my cup in a way the Midwest doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love living in the state of 10,000 lakes and a place where fall walks are incomparable. But as the season is changing and a harsh Minnesota winter is approaching, I can’t help but miss predictable and dependable weather. I will also add that yes of course, I can go outside here at home, but the urge to is far less than it was in GJ. Perhaps it’s because I’m used to the outside offerings here, or maybe it’s because the offerings in Grand Junction were simply unmatchable. What I do know is that the outdoor lifestyle in Grand Junction recharged my battery mentally and physically in ways I didn’t realize until my ten days had come to a close. 

I definitely miss the culture in GJ too. I miss how accessible a safe and lively downtown is, how in tune the community was, and most of all, the versatile atmospheres at hand. The slower pace of life there compared to a quicker pace in a metro area, is night and day. The option to live your Tuscany dreams at a winery and then cross the street to one that reminds you of a cozy Northwestern cabin will never stop amazing me. Walking the streets downtown GJ at night and not wondering what would happen if I was alone, is a feeling I miss. 

I definitely don’t miss the lizard population though. As we know, I did zero research before arriving in Grand Junction, so when I got home Google and I had a long overdue date. The first thing I researched was the lizard population, and let’s just say thank goodness I didn’t have a run in with what is called the Eastern Collared Lizard. The chances of me making it home if that had occurred are slime to none. 

What Finding A Home Really Means

Has my definition of home changed since I got home? Absolutely. Home can be anywhere, as long as you’re open and willing. I used to think home was determined based on where your loved ones and favorite places are. And sure, that can be part of it, but the idea that home is strictly determined by that was extremely naive of me. If this experience had taught me anything, it is that starting somewhere new is like taking the training wheels off of a bike. First, you want them back on, then you start getting acquainted with the foreign feeling. Once you feel more confident, you start taking leaps of faith and pushing through until you ultimately get used to the newness of it all. Finally, if desired, you can start adding bells, whistles, and baskets to the handle bars, setting up roots and making the bike your own. 

A Tribute To My Roots

Enjoying hot chocolate at a coffee shop in Mountain Village, CO

Speaking of home, I definitely felt a sense of gratitude for the place I currently live. It took me testing a new place to realize relocating somewhere like Grand Junction would require sacrificing some of the things I love most about my current home. For example, I love all of the lake towns near my city, watching the snow fall from my bedroom window on Christmas morning, the state fair and festivals I’ve grown up with. I’ve always cherished those parts about where I live, but was reminded greatly just how thankful I am for what I have. 

Could I Actually Build a Life There? 

The number one question I asked myself before starting my ten day adventure was whether or not Grand Junction would be a place I could start a life. When I first got home, the answer was yes. Now writing this weeks later, I can confirm my answer hasn’t changed. The only thing that has changed is an even stronger urge to visit again. In my opinion, life moves pretty fast, but in Grand Junction, life moves at whatever pace you want it to. 

And to me, that is a life worth living!

Cheers to Grand Junction.

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Series: 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge

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Megan Jirele

Independent Journalist & Writer
Digital Storytelling & Content Creation
Series: 10-Day Grand Junction, Colorado Challenge

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