{"id":506,"date":"2026-06-26T21:19:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T02:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theutahhostage.com\/?p=506"},"modified":"2026-06-26T21:19:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T02:19:41","slug":"five-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/theutahhostage.com\/?p=506","title":{"rendered":"FIVE YEARS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear You,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today marks five years. Can you believe it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew the date was coming up, since someone recently asked me how long I have been here. The number still shocked me, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. YEARS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I realized what today’s date was, I shared the “anniversary” out loud. And then I teared up a little. Ok, maybe a little more than a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came here in 2021 with a vision of a much different life than the one I have now. I had no idea that I would move into my own apartment a little over a year after I arrived here. I had no idea that just a couple months after moving I would be navigating this area and living my life totally on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could have just left. No one would have faulted me for making that choice. And I would be lying if I said the thought never crossed my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why did I choose to stay? The simple answer is I chose to stay to find my joy. To find my peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You better believe I was nervous about staying somewhere without any support system. For a while, my life consisted of going to work and going home. I didn’t do much else. Except cry… a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then, I started going out. I started exploring. I started participating. I started talking to people. And I found a village. I found people I love dearly, who challenge me, and who help me every day to find the joy and peace I need. Even if they don’t even know their doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I’m staying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For how long, you may ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have no idea. I’m just taking one day at a time. But you can be sure that I will continue to capture images of what speaks to me about this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On to the next five years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(shrug)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Falls Park, Sioux Falls, SD, May 2022 – \u00a9Stacey Padula Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear You, Today marks five years. Can you believe it? I knew the date was coming up, since someone recently asked me how long I have been here. The number still shocked me, though. FIVE. YEARS. When I realized what today’s date was, I shared the “anniversary” out loud. And then I teared up a … Continue reading FIVE YEARS<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,38,44,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dear-you-love-me","category-friends-can-save-you-or-commit-you","category-the-silver-lining","category-the-world-as-i-see-it"],"yoast_head":"\nFIVE YEARS - Tales of a Former Utah Hostage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/theutahhostage.com\/?p=506\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FIVE YEARS - Tales of a Former Utah Hostage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dear You, Today marks five years. 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