“Hey, we're going to the beach, wanna come?”
Near 90 degrees. Birds tweeting, not a soul in the forest, a girl
friend and her baby at the beach.... I couldn’t think of a better reason to
clock out early.
We get used to things. We get used to how good we have it and one
must remember how blessed one is. And on this particular 90 degree California
day, I was aware that my life is pretty darn good.
I ran out of the main house, all of one minute walk to my home,
put on my bikini and shorts and headed west to the Pacific Ocean.
I skipped down the trail, I took pictures of the golden light
streaming through the trees. I looked up at the steep mountain I would climb in
the winter to find antler sheds, remembering the sun setting by five.
Now, I had an eternity to be outside before darkness came. The
heat on my skin felt amazing. The thunderous roar of the ocean waves pulled me
with a quickness.
I can’t believe I live here. You have no idea, words don’t do it
justice, you must come visit.
It’s a humble little life in terms of needs and wants of most
people. My home is small, my town is small, my connection to the outside world
is limited but I have cliffs and waves and peace. I have people, good ones.
The three of us sat playing in the sand. Mama was watching baby
and I was watching the ocean in which there was a massive dark objects coming
out of the water.
Yes, it was the whales. They were SOOOO close, it was like you
could reach out and touch them.
And we were the only ones on this magnificent shoreline.
It happens this way, I have seen many whales in my lifetime and
it is always when no one else is looking.
I am a firm believer in the power of place.
I consider myself and expert as I have lived in a lot of places.
Each place brings out different elements of oneself.
For me, I think California brings out the best in me.
I went home to Chicago for JPs wedding last weekend. 50 hours
home, that’s it. And while I was happy to see my family, my teacher, my
friends, I was practically in tears the moment I woke up.
Chicago has always had this weird hold on me and I tried to be
happy there last year but when I see the me now, I am a completely different
person.
I had no idea I could be so extroverted and charismatic. In
Chicago, I was insular and here, I am happy, really truly happy and confident
and social.
I felt it all creep back in my 50 hours in Chicago, the doubt,
the insecurities. It’s weird. But maybe it’s that here on a daily basis I
interact with people just like myself interested in nature, culture, travel,
adventure, personal growth, health.
People tell me I’d be a good life coach. Maybe. I believe it’s
worthwhile to seek out happiness and while I understand, it is very much a
state of mind, there are some backdrops that really help and it is worth the
risk of uprooting yourself and being uncomfortable for a little while to attain
your bliss.
I am done writing this blog post (I wanna go hike!). And it’s
Sunday and I am listening to gospel music on my pocket radio. I will leave you
with a line from the song that is playing right now that sums it all up:
“Don’t miss that train, lord, try to be ready when he calls your
name” #amen