refreshing life and living refreshed |
In the beginning of 2009, sitting safely and financially secure in my Minneapolis apartment I made a pact with myself. Get out of this city. Get out and explore something - something somewhere, something anywhere, and do it soon. Soon became Sept 30th, a one-way ticket bound for SFO. Join me as I establish a new life, the next chapter of my San Franciscan life. No job, no apartment, no established network. It’s time to start fresh, new; it’s time to be refreshed with life. |
Before my move, I met with a friend (of a friend, of another friend’s boyfriend’s - you get the picture) who previously lived in San Francisco. A little bit older and a little bit wiser, this friend, let’s call him Jake*, relocated to NYC eight years previously, living and working on Wall Street. After the stock market plummetted, he picked up and left on a world excursion (round the world ticket) for six months, until settling back in Minnesota.
Looking back on his travels and time in NYC, Jake encountered a lot of people and exciting adventures, but there was something missing in his life. That thing? Family. It took him awhile to figure out what exactly it was, but it came clearer to him once he returned to the US following his grand world trip.
Spending a few days with old coworkers and friends in NYC, Jake noticed many similarities among his friends. They were unhappy, unfulfilled. A few who were in their thirties complained of lost chances - things like marraige and parenthood.
Taking all this in, Jake went back to his hotel and made a list of all the things that were important to him. He also considered how this list could have been different before he moved to NYC, nine years previously. At this point in life, there was one thing that was among the most important to him. Family: starting one and being part of his own current family members’ lives. Stepping back, he looked at his list again and purchased a one-way ticket back to his roots.
Fast forward to my meeting with him, Jake suggested that I do the same and make a list. However, he encouraged me to make a list before leaving home and refer to it throughout my travels. Yes, the list may change, but it’s a reminder of what was important to me before getting swept up in the chaos and novelty of a new grand city.
*Change of name
