Autumn walks in Sacramento are nothing like Portland. Instead of cold, damp streets filled with fir trees and wooden houses, I was passing white stucco homes with red-tiled roofs, lazy palm trees, and an open blue sky. I felt like I was on vacation in some tropical paradise.
Two years later, the vacation was over. I had another newborn, an emotional two-year-old, extra fat that didn’t want to fall off, and I was missing my home in Portland fiercely. Many areas that I had received fulfillment were gone—my career, singing, and nature hikes to name a few. I missed my friends. Amazingly enough, I even found that I was missing the rain (but only a little bit).
It is the tough times in life which seem to motivate us the most. When I felt like my life was a vacation I was not terribly motivated to do much of anything out of the daily routine of caring for my child. But when I reached an emotional low one year ago, I started to explore ways to brighten the future. Could I reach out to my new acquaintances to make deeper friends? Could I write a blog about getting healthy to motivate myself? Could I join a choir to keep my singing skills honed?
Earlier this morning I went on a bike ride pulling my two kids in their trailer. I passed stucco houses and palm trees under a sunny blue sky. It doesn’t exactly feel like vacation. No, my days are much too productive to feel like that! Instead I have the happy feeling of purpose and fulfillment. I am growing in my new career, my new friendships, and my new environment. And the weather is not bad either.
Your are blooming where you're planted! I find myself relocated every few years and am finding there are good things wherever I am. Sure, I miss the mountains and the ocean. But, I am loving the sunny, blue-sky days. I am even starting to appreciate the beauty of Missoure. I believe we can be happy and "bloom" if we look for and appreciate the beauty around us.
ReplyDelete