Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes 🎶
Last week I shared that I recently left my job of 16 years. And while that’s been a huge change in my life, it’s not the only change… I’m also moving. I’ve lived in Sonoma County for 20 years, and while the thought of leaving is extremely bittersweet, I feel like it’s time for a change.
I remember reading a piece by Brené Brown, in which she asks, in so many words, “do you fit in where you live, or do you belong where you live?” And this got me thinking. I’d say I fit in really well in Sonoma, especially having been in the wine industry for so long. But do I belong in Sonoma? Is this my place? If I were traveling the world looking for a new home, and happened to visit Sonoma, would I be so enamored that I’d stop my travels to live there? Would I feel so in my element that I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else? Out of all the places in the world, would this be where I’d choose to live? No. Which tells me that it’s time to move on, even though it feels like I’m uprooting my entire life.
These decisions can sometimes feel paralyzing. But, I keep having to remind myself that, in the absolute worst case scenario, if I discover that I’ve made a mistake, I can always move back to Sonoma and get another job at another winery and still be happy and live a good life. But I’m looking for a great life. One more aligned with my hobbies and passions. Will I find it? Who knows. But I am certain that unless I do this now, unless I give it a try, I’ll have always wondered what my life would have looked like if I had just taken a chance.
I know there will be ups and downs, and plenty of moments of regret, but I have a feeling that in 5 or 10 or 20 years I’ll look back at this decision with immense gratitude for everything I’ve gained by letting go of so much. At the very least I expect it will be a grand adventure.
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."
-Helen Keller
