September 9, the day I claimed my name and a new book of life started.
Here we are, exactly one year later from the day I received my passport with my new name on it. A name that has always been close to me and felt very much me. I will never forget all the emotions I felt a year ago. My palms sweaty on the steering wheel of the car driving myself one more time under my old name. The short walk to the town hall in my light blue summer dress while the wind was playing with my hair felt endless. Mere minutes away from the start of something new.
Euphoria overcame me when I left the building with my passport in hand. I put my new driver’s license to use by blasting the music loud while taking the scenic route back to the house. Even as a writer I don’t think I can ever give words to the kind of freedom I was feeling at that very moment. The best way to describe the feeling is at the end of a movie when you see a car driving next to the coastline with the windows down. You can see far ahead and no one else but you is on the road. Salty air, the sun is in their golden hour and good music playing in the background sets the mood when tailgate lights slowly disappear out of sight. It’s the end of the movie, so as a viewer you see it as the end of a story. But the thing is, that is where my life restarted.
Out of sight. The next two weeks was my namechange a fulltime job. So much paperwork had to be done, filled in and phone calls to be made. The six weeks after were already so much lighter, but still there was a lot to do. Before I planned my escape to Vienna, my first trip under my new name. And what a trip it was. I temporarily moved to a city I had never been to and I had the time of my life. The travels didn’t stop, I made several more and I couldn’t get enough of the euphoria. Along the way I met other people who changed their last name or were planning to. I am happy I could offer a helping hand to them who just wanted to know what it feels like to change up a part of your identity.
It has been a year. A year that means everything to me. It was the year I truly lived for everything, my needs and wants. I have worked hard my whole life to always live from one dream to another one, but honestly… I truly outdone myself this time!
The first chapter of my new book of life was amazing and shined just as brightly as the sun on the day I received my passport. I guess this means a new chapter starts today? I am excited, filled with a desire for adventure of the unknown of what comes next. There are ideas, goals and plans, but who knows since so much is still up in the air. For today I let it float and just enjoy the day as is. Achieving this incredible milestone is already a big day to me.
Love,
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