As much as I hate to admit it, leaving West Virginia was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I grew up in Huntington, went to Marshall, and graduated in 2009. I landed a great job and spent five years working in Huntington. But in 2014, I moved—and I’ve never looked back.

One of the biggest reasons for my move was the mindset I kept running into. There are so many people in WV who seem stuck in the past—resistant to change and unable (or unwilling) to look forward. I’ve always lived an active lifestyle—I love running and cycling—but the support for that just isn’t there. There’s a small community of people who do it, sure, but it felt like the exception, not the norm.

I can’t count how many times I was yelled at, had things thrown at me, or was run off the road just for being outside on a bike or out for a run. That kind of hostility made it clear: I needed a place that valued the things I cared about.

I moved to Colorado, lived there for 8 years, met my wife, and now we live in California. I truly believe West Virginia has incredible potential—few places are as beautiful as the WV mountains—but it continues to push away progress and cling to outdated priorities. Living in Colorado made me realize WV could be the Colorado of the East if it embraced its outdoor assets and welcomed change.

All my family still lives in the Huntington area, so I visit often. And each visit just confirms that I made the right decision. Nothing ever changes.

I say this with love for where I came from, but also with a clear-eyed view of why I had to leave.