Heading in the Opposite Direction

Yesterday I woke up and all I wanted was to drink my coffee outside in some fashion. However, living in the city without a balcony/patio and with a view of other buildings out my windows, it would have entailed getting dressed and sitting on the building's front stoop or buying a cup of coffee where outdoor seating in the rainy season would be available. Neither of those options were ones I wanted to pursue, so I settled on drinking coffee in bed, reading organic magazines, and imagining the patio at my parent's place.

While driving down the coast on my last trip home, it dawned on me how much I miss that place-something I actually rarely think of when I am involved in my daily city living. Yet also for the first time I have been hearing myself say out loud frequently that I can see myself ending up back there or in a similar location on the Oregon coast. Strange then that here I am….in the city again…and enjoying it. The irony of life is that sometimes we end up having to head in the exact opposite direction of where we want to be in order to get to where we want to be in the end.

That concept is something that I think of when I read the wisdom of others who talk about how to better live more simply. The idea is to choose the end goal of where you want to be and then take the steps to get there, all the while creating simplicity where you currently are and enjoying the small moments. Thus while all I really want is to be back on the coast, I am enjoying my moments here, continuing to expand my education and professional skills in order to eventually end up back "home." The city has its own benefits and I actually don't doubt that this is exactly where I am supposed to be at this point in my life. I am one who believes that life/God takes us on a journey to best use our skills and to encourage growth, and that we are to embrace the gifts, moments, experiences, and people along the way. New doors seem to always open at the right moments as long as we are willing to proceed forward.

Thus while maybe at times it feels like the opposite direction, any step along the way toward the end goal has to actually be moving in the right direction. So for now I'll have to continue to envision the patio of my parent's place when I'm having moments of needing coffee and green spaces (and enjoy being able to purchase the New York Times which is something I can't have on the coast), because I have a feeling I might be here in this city for longer than I actually expect. We've got to relish the steps along the way or we're missing the beauty of life! Hope you all have been enjoying a great week previous!