The biggest lesson
As you know from the millions of posts I have made (hey, look at me), I moved across the country a few months ago.
Let me start by saying, I am extremely happy here. Let me start by saying, this has been what I've needed. Let me start by saying, this still needs time, and I'm going to give it just that.
Now, I've learned a lot of things through my big life upheaval. I've learned about running from your problems (hint, it doesn't work), I've learned about minimal living, I've learned about budgeting, I've learned about, very technically, business and marketing.
I've learned a lot of things, but there's something I've learned the most.
I've learned about living with gratitude and presence.
For the past six years or so, the grass was always greener. Whether it be my haircut, my clothes, my body, my city, or my career path, nothing ever seemed to be "right" for me.
I strived to change, I scrolled images of "perfect" places, I read articles about 22 year old entrepreneurs.
I, not all, but a lot of the time, forgot what I had, who I was, and how insanely lucky I was to be alive.
Now, I believe, very strongly, I might add, in pursuing dreams and taking chances. I believe in wanting something more — something different, if that is what you feel is right for you.
But the thing is, wanting more and being grateful and happy in the present are not mutually exclusive.
I've written about this time and time again through the years as I've "learned" this lesson over, and over, and over again. But somehow, it always left. Somehow, I always forgot.
Lucky for me, the universe did what it always does, and it made me remember.
The universe will always teach you the lesson you need to learn, even if you're stubborn enough to make it teach you the hard way.
This move has taught me one major thing.
You must always, always, always embrace where you are in life, be grateful, and realize what is right in front of you.
Because the truth is, as happy as I am in my new path, I am just now realizing how lucky I have been.
And I guess I had to live it to understand.
I had to move to understand that you must always remember you are exactly where you need to be.
That goes for my time in Montana, that goes for my time in Reno, that goes for my time in Boston, that goes for last night drinking wine with friends, that goes for me sitting and writing hungover in my bed, right here, right now.
Life should not be lived thinking of what else you could be doing, who else you could be, or where else you could be.
It's a balance of big dreams and present living. It's a balance of gratitude and striving for more.
I'm still finding the balance, if I'm being quite honest, but I know it's there. I know I must find it, because that is where my greatest work and creativity come from — a place of true contentment and passionate dreaming.
And I think we're all trying to balance daily life, dreams, and present living, why else would there be one million quotes about living presently with nature backgrounds on Pinterest? We need to read them.
And so, I can't thank the universe enough for this lesson, because I still have so many years to live. I'm applying it looking back, and I'm applying it looking forward.
So, my friends, I'll leave you with this.
Realize you are where you are supposed to be, and for pete's sake, dream big, kid.
Oh, and always remember...
"wherever you go, there you are."
And now, I'm off to apply this to my new city and chapter... because it deserves that, as do I.... because, at least right now, it is where I'm supposed to be.