Sweet as: the Journey

I’m a little out of order on my posts, and for that I apologize. I owe you one on moving day and everything that went with it – it was chaotic but fabulous!  In the meantime, I’m on the road and thought I’d jot down some thoughts.

I “borrowed” that image and quote from a friend on Facebook, who happened to post it today. And in light of my faith in the universe and its messages, I thought I’d re-post it here – there’s something particularly meaningful about a quote encouraging a new direction on the same day that I leave my old life behind. I am, in fact, choosing a new direction, towards something (and someone) amazing, with my head on straight and my sh*t-kicking boots on. It feels right, and I feel fortunate to be able to make this kind of decision at this point in my life. (It helps that I’ve always loved Dr Seuss, too!) So the image is remarkably apropos.

As for the journey itself, I feel like there are multiple journeys at the moment. There’s the obvious physical one: I’ve completed Leg One of three, with the longest and most claustrophobia-inducing next. (Seriously – 17 hours on a plane?!?  Who thought of this craziness??)  But there’s also the philosophical one: what kind of work am I going to do when I land in NZ? Do I want to return to IT or do I want to explore other options? Can I afford to retire? (The answer is a definitive “no”, but it’s nice to dream about.) The third journey, from my perspective, is the emotional one: fulfilling a lifelong dream of living abroad;  following my heart to pursue the love that has developed and matured over the last 7 years; leaving the people and places I know behind to explore a relatively unknown and unfamiliar destination. I know that I’m an adventurer and I like to think of myself as pretty brave (most of the time), so I am certain that I’ll adapt quickly and learn to love my new home. But there’s also a muted sadness in knowing that my family and friends are that much farther away.  My emotions have been all over the board, to be honest. But I trust that joy and contentment will ultimately rule. I know they will.

So as I sit in the lounge with the dozens of other travelers awaiting planes to whisk them off to fun-filled and far-flung places, I reminisce about the more than 11 years I lived in Miami Beach, feeling a sense of closure for that part of my life and ushering in a more powerful sense of welcoming for what’s to come. It was a beautiful place to live, for sure, in many obvious ways. But I believe that my life is about to become even more beautiful – in some obvious ways and in some less overt but no less profound ways.