As I alluded in my previous post, I can now confirm that I am indeed leaving the O-H. While it was always in the plan, the plan came to me faster than I came to it. Through a series of incredible opportunities, I get to stay with the company I love in the field that I love. With that firmly in place, I made the decision to jump.
In less than a month, I’ll be the big 3-0. This is truly a fresh start into my third decade of life. I know it’s a bit early for end-of-the-year introspection but I feel that this year has brought about a myriad of changes for me and in me. I *found* bits of me that I thought I lost. I am trying my hand at being really honest in my interactions and transparent in my relationships after learning the hard way; I began embracing things I never thought I’d want and looked for a house (even made offers!) to buy all by myself. I landed two new jobs in six months, exerted more control of my finances, found a new dependence on God and His timing and found deeper relationships with my parents (all three of them). I am still learning to let go of toxic elements in my life but I have a good start. I feel a true peace with where I am and I hope that carries me through turning 30.
With regard to the move… its manifested itself by making me feel lighter. It’s a metaphorical changing of the seasons in its truest form. I find that I’m feeling more bittersweet about… well… everything. My long commute in to work is more pleasant; I’m paying closer attention to the little things like the fog rising off the water, the changing leaves on the trees, the cows in their pasture, people who go to Sheetz at the same time as me in the morning - you get the idea. I’m taking a mental snap-shot and committing to memory those scenes that were all too familiar a month ago. Granted, I look like a creeper with a smile on my face for no apparent reason but that’s okay by me.
This next part is an adventure. If I may defer to someone with an indisputable ability to describe this - Donald Miller says it beautifully: "And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about something beautiful born inside of you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about learning oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? ... Leave. Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. you have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."
