Winter snow and shrinkage gives way to the melt of spring and new growth. Summer heat gives way to falling leaves and temperatures. The cycle begins again. I attended college in Tennessee and missed the distinct breaks between the seasons. As I grew I went on many adventures. I have traveled from Minnesota to Michigan. I have lived in Tennessee and Massachusetts. I have spent time in Florida and Missouri. In all these places I have searched for fulfillment.

For the past decade, I have spent most of my time at work and at play in Rochester. When I first moved to Rochester each day had a new adventure for me to encounter. Near the end of my stay there, the days began to blend together. I was shocked that I was overcome with a numbing sense of sameness. Somehow my adventure had become static.

This spring as January turned into February, a friend helped me make a big move to Minneapolis. I hope that by a change of scenery I could begin a new adventure with a new life in a new city. I am a firm believer in growing where we are planted; however, when your roots get too big for your pot sometimes replanting is needed.

For me this change of location was significant. I decided that I would begin a search for my best self. I made a commitment to uncovering who I really am and living life as though each moment matters.

In my old life, I had arrived at the point where the motions of day-to-day life had lost their importance. My routine had become uneventful and empty. I enjoyed what I was doing and was glad to help out and entertain others, but no matter how much I did it just did not seem quite enough.

I was being held back by my resistance to change. My attitude of “it aint broke, don’t fix it” had reached an end point. I was helping others, but not helping myself first. I needed to be attentive to myself to be healthy and grow. At the point where you have given all you have and you are empty inside, you burnout. At that moment, you are unable to help anyone, let alone yourself.

An inconvenient truth in life is that we are our own most faithful companions. Family, friends, and coworkers will all eventually let us down or disappoint us in some way. Even when others try not to hurt us, when they do not live up to our expectations, our hearts can become broken and, of course, frustration ensues.

I have a firm belief that we all can get along. Some of us may feel wild like lions. Some of us may feel timid like lambs. Nevertheless, how we live is made up by our past and our inherited nature. How we experience life is decided by the choices we make and continue to make.

We can choose to not tear each other down. We can choose to live with respect for ourselves and for each other. Isn’t it time we choose to set aside our differences and lie down together?

Today is a new day. Please set aside resentment and fear and decide to get along. I know I have!

As always,
Love,