Mr. Oz, lil doggy Ozy and I are road tripping to our new home this week. We are taking a big step and moving to Seattle, WA. Good-bye harsh Minnesota winters and hello drizzly and cloudy temperate climes. The whole moving thing has been one interesting ride thus far and I'm sure it will only get more interesting as the days and weeks ahead. But, as some of you can attest to given your personal proximity to me over the course of this past year . . . it was time for a change. Life's far too short to live in "we should's" and "what if's." Best to drink up life like water shooting out of a garden hose on full blast. There have been several events in the recent months that have caused me to pause, take stock of my own happiness and reflect more deeply on who it is I am and who it is I want to be. All of this soul searching has led me to a new path of exploration, personal growth and a strong desire to break out of my comfort zone. While it will likely be challenging, I think it will also be liberating. I think this quote/story from Wayne Dyer does a nice job of summing up some of my thoughts on the topic:
The Bushman in the Kalahari Desert talk about two "hungers."
There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger.
The Little Hunger wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger,
the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for meaning...
There's ultimately only one thing that makes human beings deeply and profoundly bitter,
and that is to have thrust upon them a life without meaning...
There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness...
But of far more comfort to the soul...is something greater than happiness
or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because meaning transfigures all...
Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you're happy
or unhappy. You are content—you are not alone in your Spirit—you belong.
— Sir Laurens van der Post from Hasten Slowly, a film by Mickey Lemle
There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger.
The Little Hunger wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger,
the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for meaning...
There's ultimately only one thing that makes human beings deeply and profoundly bitter,
and that is to have thrust upon them a life without meaning...
There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness...
But of far more comfort to the soul...is something greater than happiness
or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because meaning transfigures all...
Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you're happy
or unhappy. You are content—you are not alone in your Spirit—you belong.
— Sir Laurens van der Post from Hasten Slowly, a film by Mickey Lemle
So, with that . . . off we go!
The last few weeks have been crazy. I left my job of 5+ years with a really awesome company and wonderful colleagues and friends. I accepted a new job with another cool company working on a fun brand in a category that I absolutely love. Mr. Oz and I got our home ready to put on the market, we took a house hunting trip and are in the midst of packing up for our journey to the Pacific Northwest. Whew.
As this blog is all about documenting My Bests, I guess I feel compelled to say that Minneapolis is certainly a big ole Best for me. It is just a wonderful city filled with a relaxed and progressive vibe, great art, tasty food, beautiful scenery, hard-working and down to earth people and, well, I just love it. It's tough to leave, but am hopeful that I will find another BEST in Seattle and can then lay claim to living in not one, but two, amazing cities. Oh how I will miss this place. Of course, I will continue my blogging adventures from my new locale and will include my new-found favorites and, if need be, my not so favorites.
One really neat aspect of taking a long road trip is compiling the tunes and various audio books we plan to listen to on the 22 hour ride out. Mr. Oz and I have sifted through many options for the perfect road trippin entertainment. Here is what we have so far:
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan -- some fantasy yummy with mystical creatures thrown in for good measure
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell -- Oh Sarah, you zany historian you.
Unconditional Confidence: Instructions for Meeting Any Experience with Trust and Courage by Pema Chodron -- Pema is a Buddhist teacher who specializes in expanding consciousness through meditation and positive thought. Seems perfect.
Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson -- this is a sci-fi book that has been on my must read list for some time now but haven't gotten to it.
I'm so excited for all of you!!! I can't wait to continue to follow your blog and visit you in the future. :) Safe travels.
ReplyDelete