It's been 3 years since I've followed through on my dream of living in Austin, TX and I love it! It's a college town and May is the month for graduations. I remember being 18yrs old and anxious about the upcoming direction life was taking me. For various reasons I chose to stay in Dallas and attend a local university instead of joining many of my classmates in the mass academic diaspora that took them to strange new cities. Instead, I stayed in a familiar city and continued to spend my adolescence developing close to home.
It was stressful competing amongst my classmates for access to more prestigious universities or scholarships to help pay for school. I knew my parents worked hard to send my brothers and me to school, but it felt wrong to take this blessing for granted. The concept of money was so limited in my young mind that all I could truly understand was that it afforded me access to status. Money could buy clothing, cars, and gadgets... Toys that won the attention of others. Money could be used to pay for schooling, which could then grant access to competitive jobs, earning even more money, and ultimately the attention of potential high quality mates. Of course, I was not yet prepared to understand the sacrifices made for me to enjoy these privileges. I was focused on meeting girls...
I think a lot of growth happens when one leaves home and finds themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. We learn about ourselves. We find ways to adapt and adjust so that we fit in and feel less uncomfortable. We make friends, we learn to navigate the new terrain, and we find ways to miss our old lives a little bit less.
Now nearly 18yrs later, I have been 'l-i-v-i-n' (Matthew McCanaughey voice) and having the time of my life as a young-ish man a few hours from 'home'. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here doing the things that I love. I am grateful that I was able to attend and work for a university on a full academic scholarship without burdening my parents or myself beneath a mountain of debt, which allowed me to purchase a house and start a business that helped me to grow as a person. But mostly, I am grateful to God for being with me through this entire journey. It hasn't always been 'smooth sailing', and since we cannot view time through the 'big picture' lens (simultaneously knowing Past, Present, and Future as God does) we can only have faith and remain faithful in the moment until events are revealed to us...
For example, set-backs come like little 'pressure tests' that show us where we need to improve. I think of a garden hose with small holes that leak when water pressure builds and squeezes through. I remember when thieves stole my first motorcycle in Dallas and I had the choice of using the insurance money to purchase another bike or save towards my goal of moving to Austin. I resisted the temptation to get another bike which allowed me to save for the move. Within a year of living in Austin an investment matured which allowed me to purchase an even better motorcycle, one that I appreciate even more because of my learning experiences from the previous bike, like a bigger fuel tank, a softer seat, and some insane horse power (for safety Mom). In a strange way, I am grateful to the thieves who exposed a vulnerability which allowed me to learn, move (on), and follow through on my journey of doing the things I love, with whom I love, all while 'livin' in a city that I love.
It was stressful competing amongst my classmates for access to more prestigious universities or scholarships to help pay for school. I knew my parents worked hard to send my brothers and me to school, but it felt wrong to take this blessing for granted. The concept of money was so limited in my young mind that all I could truly understand was that it afforded me access to status. Money could buy clothing, cars, and gadgets... Toys that won the attention of others. Money could be used to pay for schooling, which could then grant access to competitive jobs, earning even more money, and ultimately the attention of potential high quality mates. Of course, I was not yet prepared to understand the sacrifices made for me to enjoy these privileges. I was focused on meeting girls...
I think a lot of growth happens when one leaves home and finds themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. We learn about ourselves. We find ways to adapt and adjust so that we fit in and feel less uncomfortable. We make friends, we learn to navigate the new terrain, and we find ways to miss our old lives a little bit less.
Now nearly 18yrs later, I have been 'l-i-v-i-n' (Matthew McCanaughey voice) and having the time of my life as a young-ish man a few hours from 'home'. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here doing the things that I love. I am grateful that I was able to attend and work for a university on a full academic scholarship without burdening my parents or myself beneath a mountain of debt, which allowed me to purchase a house and start a business that helped me to grow as a person. But mostly, I am grateful to God for being with me through this entire journey. It hasn't always been 'smooth sailing', and since we cannot view time through the 'big picture' lens (simultaneously knowing Past, Present, and Future as God does) we can only have faith and remain faithful in the moment until events are revealed to us...
For example, set-backs come like little 'pressure tests' that show us where we need to improve. I think of a garden hose with small holes that leak when water pressure builds and squeezes through. I remember when thieves stole my first motorcycle in Dallas and I had the choice of using the insurance money to purchase another bike or save towards my goal of moving to Austin. I resisted the temptation to get another bike which allowed me to save for the move. Within a year of living in Austin an investment matured which allowed me to purchase an even better motorcycle, one that I appreciate even more because of my learning experiences from the previous bike, like a bigger fuel tank, a softer seat, and some insane horse power (for safety Mom). In a strange way, I am grateful to the thieves who exposed a vulnerability which allowed me to learn, move (on), and follow through on my journey of doing the things I love, with whom I love, all while 'livin' in a city that I love.
RSS Feed
