Living In Paradise

They say that changing your perspective on a situation can change your attitude about it.  This month being the one-year mark of my move from the East side I have been particularly introspective; this year has been a rough year.  After quite a few unexpected challenges along with adjusting to the changes that come with making a major move and job change, in December I was becoming concerned that I might be slipping into a depression.

I had decided I hated where I lived.

This was a new feeling. I have had moments I have struggled, moments I didn't like my life, but I haven't felt those feelings for years.  At first I took each trial and set back as an opportunity to learn and grow, but they continued coming till it felt like an avalanche.   Pretty soon my own whole outlook on my world darkened till I was even having a hard time finding peace in my own home.

I knew I needed to do something to change this downward spiral.  I began making a point to BE in my world, making it what I need and want to be happy.  Part of this meant getting out and working on my photography again.  In doing so I began capturing some of the beauty and peace that had been suppressed by the settling negativity the last few months. 

It was posting the pictures online that finally got my head screwed on straight when one of my friends posted the simple comment "You live in Paradise".  I cried.

I do live in Paradise.  Actually as I look back over at all of the places I've lived in this state, Paradise has never been much further than my back door.  Yes, some places I have loved more than others, but in all of them I can recall the numerous times I would be chatting with tourists and they would always say how lucky I was to live where I live.  I live places people dream of. 
  

The New Year brought new changes and with some of the work I was already putting into shifting my views things are getting brighter.  No, I still can't say I am totally in love with where I am at; I know what it is to have that kind of deep connection with the land and I haven't found that here. However, I find bits of peace and happiness...especially when I can avoid the city. 

The reality is that this is just another step in the journey; another chapter in the book.  It's been an exciting adventure and this part is no less so.