The idea to chronicle my journey to a better life and better me was born out of the joy that I have recently found in doing those things that make me happy instead of those things that are necessary. I have found joy in letting things go that do not need to consume my time. Of course if you are one of my friends reading this you can rest assured that I have not decided join a hippy commune and give up what I believe in. It just means that for a very long time I focused on doing what was necessary and somewhere in the process I lost sight of what I love...and in that loss of sight, I also lost me.
The first step to change over my life was wrought with all kinds of perils. I had spent years getting to a certain point and although in my mind it was nothing to aspire to, that first step to a do-over was going to be a doozy. To get to the other side, I had to have a little sparing match with cancer. After a few surgeries and bouts of recovery now it is that moment of introspection. I was convinced that to take the step down the path to my better life, you first have to look at it a different way. This was not about money, career aspirations, a great love affair, a few less wrinkles/gray hair (who wouldn't like that?) or even to finally be able to wear a bikini. No, this do-over was going to be about an easier life. One that would be doing the things that bring me joy and in that finding the happiness that I seek.
I boiled it down to a few simple things and their definition to me.
- Bed & Breakfast - Having stayed at several over the years I have found the comfort and hospitality as being reminiscent of what I found completely appealing in my simple life. From down-filled mattresses, homemade quilts and smells wafting from the kitchen, what is there not to love about being enveloped in comfort. They are a perfect harmony of being secluded and yet never feeling alone. This is what I wanted...my own B&B...so I put that on the list.
- Baking - I just can't say enough about this topic. Baking is about love. From sweet to savory and each platitude in between, I have never met anyone that has said they don't love something baked. Baking is about precision. There is no smidgen of this or a guess at that. If you want something to rise, then you must be precise. This appeals to me. I like the order of baking. Baking is where I can lose myself. So my new simple life must involve baking...so I put that on the list.
- Biking - This is a recent entry into my life. Prior to early spring, the last time I biked anywhere was when I was 10 years old and I biked into town (which I think was over 10 miles) and my mom does not know about that! Biking now has become my means to stay fit and to think. There is something about the repetition of cycling and the idea that if you just keep the determination you will get to your destination. It is also somewhat poetic about life in the ups and downs along the road. Since beginning biking I have found that I don't love it enough to ever be in the Tour de France but it is the first time I have ever competed in a sport...and the results are completely up to me. I like that...I can win by my own accord...so I put that on the list.
- Better Life - Ah this one is "easy" because it is my catch-all category. A better life is merely code for doing whatever you want to be better today than you were the day before. This could be about learning something new or even teaching someone else something new. It could be about laughing once more. It could be delivering a plate of goodness to a neighbor to show you care. It is a constant evolving definition and there is freedom in that. It means that I could remake myself over and over again...and that is completely appealing...so that finished off the list.
In the words of G.K. Chesterton...
"I had always felt life first as a story, and if there is a story then there is a story-teller".
So this is my story...
