Find Joy In The Ordinary
Fifteen and half years ago, I made the move from LA to NY. It was the most courageous move I ever made and best decision for my career, spiritual growth and personal growth.
But after years of living in NY, the grind wore me down. The overcrowded sidewalks, pee smelling subways (yes you read that right), cold winters and intense culture drained me. NYC lost its luster for me and I couldn’t wait to get me away from the city I once loved. I felt homesick. I craved the beach, warm sun, the people and the laid back lifestyle. The more I plotted for our family’s move to LA, the more unhappy I became in my current situation. I’m ashamed to admit, this went on for years. My only solace was being outside. I went on long walks, gardened and drove to the beach every chance I got. It was during one of my walks that I heard a message clear as a whisper in my ear. The message was to find the joy where I am for change to happen.
I resisted the guidance because it felt like an impossible ask. I wanted to leave because I was unhappy so how was I supposed to find happiness in the thing that was making me unhappy? I was in a terrible funk. I felt alone and lonely and I felt unrecognizable to myself. I just wanted to go home. Of course, not a single opportunity presented itself.
By the grace of a wiser and higher power, I surrendered and accepted the guidance. I started writing down small obvious things that I was grateful for. Like getting coffee from my favorite coffee truck on the corner of 5th Avenue and 12th Street. Strand Bookstore. Central Park. Lunch on the bench at Washington Square Park. The West Village. Pizza. Brunch at the Boathouse in Central Park. The horse stables on the campus of CW Post. Fall in NY. White Christmas. BBQs in our backyard. Family gatherings. The vineyards on Long Island. Spontaneous Saturday nights with dear friends for wine and takeout.
My list of gratitude grew and so did my happiness. I started to fall in love with NY again. I didn’t feel an urgency to leave. And then the unexpected happened. An opportunity to move to Boston fell in our lap and the timing couldn’t be more perfect in every way imaginable.
As it turns out, God’s plan was far better than mine. Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world and I’ve done my fair share of traveling. Living in a New England small town by the sea is as charming as it sounds. Hello every movie on the Hallmark Channel. I couldn’t have imagined this for myself if I tried. This experience taught me so much.
We’re often so busy chasing the next thing that we forget to be still and we forget to be present and we forget to be grateful for the daily miracles in our life. The miracle for me was my change in perspective which changed my experience and then changed my life. By choosing gratitude and joy, I altered my experience even though what was happening around me didn’t change. I promise you the subway didn’t suddenly start to smell like fresh laundry. But because I was so focused on the good stuff, I stopped noticing the other stuff.
Real joy is in the ordinary moments that we often overlook and take for granted. Now when I’m itching for a change, I ground myself in gratitude of everything I love and cherish about my current situation. I take nothing for granted. The change I’m craving will find me at just the right time and I fully trust that.
Have you experienced divine guidance that you resisted at first?
But after years of living in NY, the grind wore me down. The overcrowded sidewalks, pee smelling subways (yes you read that right), cold winters and intense culture drained me. NYC lost its luster for me and I couldn’t wait to get me away from the city I once loved. I felt homesick. I craved the beach, warm sun, the people and the laid back lifestyle. The more I plotted for our family’s move to LA, the more unhappy I became in my current situation. I’m ashamed to admit, this went on for years. My only solace was being outside. I went on long walks, gardened and drove to the beach every chance I got. It was during one of my walks that I heard a message clear as a whisper in my ear. The message was to find the joy where I am for change to happen.
I resisted the guidance because it felt like an impossible ask. I wanted to leave because I was unhappy so how was I supposed to find happiness in the thing that was making me unhappy? I was in a terrible funk. I felt alone and lonely and I felt unrecognizable to myself. I just wanted to go home. Of course, not a single opportunity presented itself.
By the grace of a wiser and higher power, I surrendered and accepted the guidance. I started writing down small obvious things that I was grateful for. Like getting coffee from my favorite coffee truck on the corner of 5th Avenue and 12th Street. Strand Bookstore. Central Park. Lunch on the bench at Washington Square Park. The West Village. Pizza. Brunch at the Boathouse in Central Park. The horse stables on the campus of CW Post. Fall in NY. White Christmas. BBQs in our backyard. Family gatherings. The vineyards on Long Island. Spontaneous Saturday nights with dear friends for wine and takeout.
My list of gratitude grew and so did my happiness. I started to fall in love with NY again. I didn’t feel an urgency to leave. And then the unexpected happened. An opportunity to move to Boston fell in our lap and the timing couldn’t be more perfect in every way imaginable.
As it turns out, God’s plan was far better than mine. Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world and I’ve done my fair share of traveling. Living in a New England small town by the sea is as charming as it sounds. Hello every movie on the Hallmark Channel. I couldn’t have imagined this for myself if I tried. This experience taught me so much.
We’re often so busy chasing the next thing that we forget to be still and we forget to be present and we forget to be grateful for the daily miracles in our life. The miracle for me was my change in perspective which changed my experience and then changed my life. By choosing gratitude and joy, I altered my experience even though what was happening around me didn’t change. I promise you the subway didn’t suddenly start to smell like fresh laundry. But because I was so focused on the good stuff, I stopped noticing the other stuff.
Real joy is in the ordinary moments that we often overlook and take for granted. Now when I’m itching for a change, I ground myself in gratitude of everything I love and cherish about my current situation. I take nothing for granted. The change I’m craving will find me at just the right time and I fully trust that.
Have you experienced divine guidance that you resisted at first?
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