Five Years South: The Move That Changed Everything
Five Years South: The Move That Changed Everything
Five years ago, almost to the day, I was behind the wheel of a U-Haul, towing my sunshine orange Subaru down I-95, chasing something I couldn't quite name.
Maybe it was peace.
Maybe it was space to breathe.
Or maybe it was just time.
My daughter and grandson followed behind in a separate car, and as I looked in the mirror at that little Subaru bouncing along behind me, I felt everything at once fear, grief, hope, freedom. I didn’t know what was waiting for us in South Carolina. But I knew what I was leaving behind.
A Move That Meant More Than Miles
I had been a widow for eleven long winters. Eleven seasons of navigating life after loss grieving, rebuilding, and carrying what needed to be carried.
I wasn’t always solo in those winters. My daughter moved back home with her son during that time to reset her life and I welcomed them in. But even before she returned, I had already been talking about moving South. The pull had been building inside me for years.
I had started downsizing little by little, leaning into a more minimalist lifestyle. My daughter had embraced that mindset long before I had, and in many ways, her influence helped me clear the clutter that wasn’t just physical it was emotional, too.
And somewhere before that eleventh winter really took hold, I said it out loud:
“I’ve had enough.”
And that’s when it became clear it was time to go.
We packed up a lifetime’s worth of memories, chose what mattered most, and made the leap.
Not for a picture-perfect new beginning, but for a soulful shift. A chance to build something that actually fit who I was becoming.
The Power of Permission
South Carolina gave me more than sunshine.
It gave me permission to want more, to heal deeper, to move forward.
We weren’t chasing perfection. We were creating room to exhale.
And in that process, something opened in me.
What had once felt like survival started to feel like possibility.
And little by little, I began to find clarity again in my body, my purpose, and my peace.
When the Light Broke Through
That U-Haul drive wasn’t just about relocation. It was a transformation.
Somewhere between the highways and gas station coffee, I cracked open.
And through that crack… light poured in.
I began to meet people.
To breathe differently.
To move in rhythm with my body again, not just my responsibilities.
It was here that my wellness journey took root first with my skin, then my gut, then my purpose.
And it’s here that I’ve built a mission I never saw coming: helping women in their second act reclaim their peace, power, and presence.
You Can Go Alone (But You Don’t Have To)
There’s nothing wrong with going solo.
With loading the truck, trusting your gut, and building something new even if it looks different than what you thought life would be.
Because here’s the truth:
Healing sometimes starts with a change of scenery,
but it deepens when we allow ourselves to keep going.
I’ve learned that there is life after loss.
And not just survival, but meaning. Growth. Joy.
Five years later… I’m still going.
One calm, intentional step at a time.
Ready to step forward into your own second act?
Whether you’re healing, rebuilding, or just ready to explore what’s next let’s talk.
This is a heart-led space. No fluff. No overwhelm.
Just clarity and connection, from someone who’s walked the road and now walks beside others.
👉 Request a Mentorship Session (15–20 minutes, private + personalized)
In support,
Claudette Eames 🌻
Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Certified Mental Wellness Coach
