The Reawakening: Part 9

I am waiting at the counter for the man to pour the coffee.
-Susan Vega, “Tom’s Diner”

I’m at The Well, a coffee shop in Brentwood, Tennessee on a weekday afternoon. Not too long ago there wouldn’t be a reasonable way I’d be here, now, at this time of day. So to say I’m experiencing things I didn’t plan on is not only true, it’s my every day reality.
IMAG1229For today’s adventure, I brought along 2 books: The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick and Immersion by Mark McNees. Matthew Quick is the guy who wrote Silver Linings Playbook, and if memory serves me correctly, Mark McNees is someone I heard speak at St. Teresa Beach church last summer. Look at me, reading!
IMAG1230To tell the truth, I almost ordered a Kindle so I could read books that way. But I’m glad I didn’t. What is it about holding a real book, turning real pages, reading letters printed on real paper that’s refreshingly old-fashioned? I almost hold my books out as I’m walking to and from the coffee shop like a talented athlete carries around a football as if to say, “Look at me!”

In The Good Luck of Right Now, the author writes that for every bad thing that happens, something good happens, too. So for instance, if you recently got in a car accident, someone else might have got a bonus at work. That sort of thing. In my case, my life might contain both the bad and the good in being laid off (the “bad”), and what comes from it (the “good”). In the book Immersion, it’s about the author’s swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco shoreline, a recreation of what a few prisoners may or may not have done decades ago, and also the plot of the movie Escape From Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood. But the author uses his preparation for the difficult challenge, as well as the actual swim, as a comparison to loving and trusting God even when it’s not so easy. These are both books I really enjoy reading so if you try to take either from me, I’d ask you, “Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?”

Settle down, it’ll all be clear.
-Phillip Phillips, “Home”

It’s important to me to stay active in the days, weeks, and months after being laid off. I don’t want to settle down too much into a routine as I navigate this new world of mine… not having a job. However, stepping back and taking a breath has been rejuvenating.

What’s my next career? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself lately. There’s nothing sure about the rest of 2015, but I will say this: I’m so happy this life change happened at age 36 than 26. 10 years ago I bet I’d be panicking right about now. But me, in this moment, today at the Well, I’m excited about the potential of the future!

-Out of the Wilderness

Oops… I did it again

There I am laying on the couch, it’s about 11pm. The very cute Pitch Perfect 2 star Anna Kendrick just wrapped up Egg Russian Roulette on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and up next is the muscly Terry Crews. Take a break and watch him kill in this Old Spice commercial:

So the plan was to watch the entire show, because I really wanted to see Nate Ruess perform as the musical guest. I said to myself, “I’m just gonna shut my eyes and listen till Nate performs.” Huge mistake.

I woke up halfway through Late Night with Seth Meyers.

If I’ve done it once, I’ve done it a thousand times. I close my eyes with the best intentions and wake up… well, I wake up, which was totally not part of the plan because I wasn’t supposed to fall asleep to begin with. Next time I decide to “rest my eyes,” I need to think again. What’ll happen is more predictable than Jimmy getting egg on his face!

-Out of the Wilderness

A retreat on early evening tides

I recently returned to Nashville from a 7-day trip visiting family in Florida. It started with a few days at my favorite beach where my dogs can explore, the ocean recedes but leaves small pools of water across newly exposed sand, porpoises feeding nearby, sugary soft white sand where crabs make their home, birds chirping above…. and this, magical time floating on the early evening tide:
paddleboarding in the Gulf-Out of the Wilderness

The Reawakening: Part 8

I can’t get motivated to take action. I didn’t see it going this way, but man, I can understand now what they meant when they said one day you’ll wake up and wonder where the years have gone! Thankfully, it’s only been a few months and I absolutely will not let this go. I will not be one of those people who look back and regret the years that slipped away without taking action.

I talked to my brother on the phone the other day and he encouraged me to keep moving forward. Something to the effect of only having one life (yolo!) and that I’m not the kind of guy who will stay unsatisfied in a circumstance I can’t enjoy. That conversation was out of the blue, but perfect timing. I thought it fitting today to mention the encouragement I get from my brother on this, his birthday. Happy birthday to the best brother in the world!

Onward we march!

-Out of the Wilderness