Halloween! What fun. A time for dressing up, until the day is done.
Around 11, I found myself at the store greeted by green hair and purple clothing. I suppose I might as well have been in costume, I was wearing uggs, a swimsuit and a sweatshirt. Santa Barbara has some tricky seasonality around this time of year. Going out, it is hit or miss if it’s actually Autumn or pretending to be Summer.
Later I arrived at the beach, which had a natural distribution of young people and families.
It being the later months of the year, water sports have started at the beaches. As soon as I set my stuff down to head to the water my eyes were greeted by kids claiming a sail boat. As I looked further I saw jet skis, people wake boarding and tubing. I dove into the water. Colder than I remember, the water refreshed me from anything I had considered before entering. The water does that to me; it makes me uniquely present.
I took pictures and spent another couple hours exploring the beach until I realized that I was in love.
I’m not familiar with such an affinity for a location. I have always felt connected to environments, especially the more natural ones like forests, canyons and waterfalls, but never like this. This love is less fleeting, more subtle, longer lasting. Real love.
Waves, bringing me closer to peace. The sand, the people, the experience of it all is my paradise.
When I’m out in the water, looking at the palm trees, hundreds of people happy to be alive, I start to think about what I want to do with my life. Recently, the answer is consistent, which makes me think I’m onto something. Purpose for me has generally been about making others happy, and now I finally see how that has prepared me to experience joy in my personal life. The curious thing is that life has prepared me to be me.
“When your passion and purpose are greater than your fears and excuses, you will find a way.” - Anonymous
Ask yourself, if I could do anything in the world if money or time were no object, what would I do? Then ask yourself, what would would it take for someone to do exactly what I want as a career? If there are others who do it, then you have a clear path forward in following their example. You can be and do anything you set your mind to. The question is only when will you start?