Live frugally on surprise

day282_lowres

Write in the middle of it.

That’s what someone told me to do. As an introvert, my inclination is to wait until things are settled, processed, and sorted before sharing news in any kind of broad way — but I’m realizing that it might be awhile before things are settled, processed, and sorted, so OH WHAT THE HECK.

A year after moving to Minneapolis (Sunday was my Minneversary), I’ve decided to leave my job, the one I moved across the country for. There are a lot of factors that went into this decision, and it was not one that I made lightly. That said, I have a lot of peace about the decision itself, even though it leaves me staring into a future I can’t yet see.

From a job to the city in which I live, everything feels very much up for grabs right now — and while I’m experiencing a sense of possibility and potential, every idea I explore has a cost, a rub. My friend Leigh Kramer once wrote about the “jar lid click” — the moment when everything lines up — and so far, none of my ideas have led to that intuitive sense of alignment.

I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I am not the “leap and the net will appear” girl. I am a planner, a preparer, a “that’s not in the budget” pragmatist. The fact that I quit a job without a new plan in place is so out of character, it makes me question everything I thought I knew about myself. (What if I start liking board games?)

But you know what? The best stories of my life have been the things I could never have predicted or manipulated into happening — like once writing a song about a snack bar that landed me a job, or buying the first and only house I looked at (happened in both Denver and Minneapolis), or meeting people I had no idea would change my life (I’m looking at you, Keri Alexander, Kari Medina, Katie Freeze, Carin Towne, a whole slew of folks in Nashville, gal pals in Denver, my nephews, Foxy Brains, and, okay, EVERYONE).

Here is an idea I like:

day282_lowres

I don’t know what’s coming next. But I’m going to try living frugally on surprise, the rhythm and simplicity of the unknown, and see what happens.

Or I might buy a bed & breakfast. (I’ll add it to this list.)

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10 Comments

  1. Kendall on July 5, 2016 at 6:11 PM

    Not that you are probably looking to move back to Denver but where I work is hiring for a few different positions if they peak any interest. http://jobs.unbridledsolutions.com/
    And here is more about the “who we are”-ness: http://www.unbridledsolutions.com/culture/

    It may also be a “well the helps me know what I DON’T want to do.”:)

  2. Sarah on July 6, 2016 at 12:16 AM

    I think you would have been geeking out over this Joe Henry “on being” episode.

    I wish you well. This post initially frustrated me, but that is more me wanting to have the courage/ability to do something similar.

  3. Sarah on July 7, 2016 at 12:40 AM

    We are hiring too – you’d probably be a great fit for our community/continuing ed coordinator position:
    http://www.tillamookbaycc.edu/index.php/about-tbcc-learn-more-about-us/discover-tbcc/employment

  4. [not the] Best Blog Ever on July 7, 2016 at 7:26 AM

    Just… You know… PLEASE stay in MN! :)

  5. Kim on July 7, 2016 at 9:11 AM

    Bed.and.breakfast—->CLICK

  6. Lyla on July 7, 2016 at 12:58 PM

    Good on you for making the decision you needed to make even though the unknown can be anxiety inducing. May the coming days bring even better opportunities than you dream of. Also, I could totally see you running a B&B.

  7. Leigh Kramer on July 12, 2016 at 7:49 AM

    I am so damn proud of you. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!

  8. Mrs. Chesney on July 14, 2016 at 9:13 PM

    So proud of you. Xoxo

  9. Brit on July 20, 2016 at 1:00 PM

    Proud of and excited for you, friend! Sometimes life is absolutely about taking leap or unexpected turns when everything else is telling you that you should just stay right where you are.

    Stay hungry!

  10. Jeremy on July 30, 2016 at 12:26 PM

    It’s still for sale. I’m staring at it right now. All nasty tea shop decorations and everything. Just waiting for you.
    Love, Your brother.

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