466 Miles of Reflections Alone in a U-Haul Truck

Driving from Illinois to Georgia in a moving truck…alone

This was my first time driving a moving truck for this long of a distance (466 miles) by myself. My wonderful dad made the trip up with me when I moved to Illinois for an on-air reporting job, but leaving Illinois, I was on my own. My family couldn’t make it up due to various circumstances but it was all good because they taught me to be strong and handle business. I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually drive a 10-foot moving truck with my car attached to the back, so this was a unique experience. Nonetheless, one thing’s for sure, if I can do it, so can you!

Time alone gives you time to think alone

Most of the ride, I was playing music and grew lost in my thoughts, while of course paying attention to the road. Pretty soon, I’ll share what my next steps are, but until then, I can tell you that during this ride down, I thought twice about every decision I made up until that point. Should I have quit my job? Am I ready for this? How will I sustain? But it was too late to turn back.

Even though I grew hesitant and intimidated by the journey ahead, there was absolutely no turning back and I knew I had to keep trucking forward. At that point, my next destination was my mother’s house in Gwinnett County then several steps to follow after that. I looked in the mirror and told myself, ‘Hannah, you got this. You’re scared and that’s ok because if you weren’t scared, you’d be going the wrong way.’

Phone calls with girlfriends is all the company I need

During the drive down, I caught up with a few fabulous girlfriends, all of whom happen to be TV reporters who graduated from the same grad program I went through at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Many people were thrown off when they found out I was leaving my job. They called and texted, expressing concerns. Several people reached out telling me they thought my life looked perfect. It was during those conversations that I gained a sense of urgency to address something on my next gas stop: My life is far from perfect. Dont get me wrong, I had a good ride and I’m thankful for the opportunities in southern Illinois, but I knew it was time to part ways. Here’s the social media post I shared on that next gas stop:

Doing some reflecting & felt the need to share. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/CO23FO9S7A

— Hannah Gebresilassie (@hannahjoyTV) August 31, 2018

“The smiles you see on my social media are genuine. However, do not be mistaken. My life is far from perfect. I cried myself to sleep several times this past year. Experienced personal challenges, health challenges, work challenges & more. While it was tough at times, the outcomes made me stronger. I say all this b/c we all face challenges in life which you don’t always see on social media. Don’t be mislead by what appears to be perfection. And please don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s. Just want to share that for anyone who may be struggling with their own challenges. Be fierce and hang in there. You are not alone. ♥️”

Brace yourself for the ride… and the bills

If you’re ever getting ready to move, remember this, it’s COSTLY! I had a moving allowance moving up for my job but moving away from my job was a different story. No moving allowance. I called around to get quotes and all of the prices were high, for my budget at least. Eventually, I accepted what I needed to do and dropped the $821 for the truck to get me back to my family in Georgia. Let’s not forget fuel, which came out to about $150. Nearly $1,000 spent just like that.

Not sure if you know this or not but many of us TV reporters don’t make a ton of money in our first couple years so it DEF put a dent in my bank account. A HUGE one. Regardless, it needed to be done and it got me from point A to point B with a one-bedroom apartment packed inside of it. For anyone getting ready to move, let this be a reminder to make sure you’re ready to drop that mula, or sell your stuff and take the trip in your personal vehicle. And if you are getting ready to move, wish you a blessed and safe trip. You got this!

Sometimes getting a later start makes the journey less scary

I’ll be honest. I had my reservations about driving a U-Haul truck by myself for reasons that may be different than yours. I wasn’t afraid of the size. I wasn’t afraid of towing my car. And I darn sure wasn’t afraid of being alone. But I was afraid of the mountains. Driving with the sight of the Tennessee mountains in my peripherals in a 10-foot truck with a car towed on the back made me nervous. You may like the scenic drive, but I can tell you it’s not for me. I have this weird fear that my truck could tip over and roll down a hill. Don’t judge. But to God be the glory, I hit the road way later than expected which worked out in my favor. It was pitch dark when I was driving through the mountains so I couldn’t see them. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. While my mother was worried sick about me driving in the dark, it actually put me at ease. Thanks for all the times (I lost count) you called to check on me, mommy.

Now would also be a good time to thank a few people who sent me off. A big thanks to my TV Reporter sister Brittany Jacob for coming over the night before to help me pack. A huge thanks to Carbondale City Councilwoman Carolyn Harvey and her husband Mr. Harvey for dedicating their Friday morning to help me load up the truck and send me off with a precious prayer. They truly are family away from family. And a special thanks to everyone who sent prayers for me to make it safely and succeed as I take this leap of faith. I can’t wait to tell you all more about it. Stay tuned for new updates coming soon. In the meantime, sending you all positive vibes, peace and joy. Thanks for reading and much love!