I Have Taken Another Street

It seems that life has given me a second chance to do things right (or at least do things for the right reasons), but this time I have taken a different street.

I have been offered the opportunity to work in New York with the plan of getting a promotion, if everything goes well. Similar situation like my last job where I needed to demonstrate I was ready, and everything was int he hands of one person.

What happened then doesn't matter. The fact is that this time, I have taken another street!

Let me first share with you one of the first thoughts that came to my mind when I started entertaining this decision:

There’s a Hole in my Sidewalk

An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters, by Portia Nelson

Chapter One

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in.

I am lost .... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend that I don't see it. I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in this same place. But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but, my eyes are open. I know where I am.

It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter Four

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter Five

I walk down another street.

- - - - - -

YES, this time, it’s time for a new street. I don't need to pass by the same one 3 more times. On this new street, I follow my heart and stay where it feels like home. I love California… this is home. And I want to continue building my life here at least for a few years. Career can wait, and New York will always be there. So yes, I am a Californian at heart. I love my sun, looking at the mountains everyday as I drive to work, going for a walk at the beach every possible Sunday, going to Church and Bible Study at OLQA Church, mingling with the LIFT group members, and enjoying my fun team at the office with our silly games, jokes, and contests.

I don’t think 3 years ago I would have even thought of the possibility of saying “no” to a career advancement opportunity. But today, life is good as it is, and I don’t need the title anymore to show that I have value and to feel fulfilled.

This is priceless! And I am thankful for having the opportunity to walk down a different street.

That's the beauty of life. There are many paths and streets. We just need to choose the one our heart and spirit are guiding us towards.

Right & Wrong Are Only Mental Construct

“If you get obsessed with whether you’re making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. This is not the correct assumption because the universe is flexible; it adapts to any decision you make.”

So, are there wrong decisions or just new experiences? Why do we believe we have to make choices? Who determines if the choice is right or wrong?

Being choice-makers keeps us and our mind trapped in this sequence of right and wrongs. Wouldn’t you think we could enjoy life more if we let go the need for choices? We may be able to live without boundaries and limitations, acting at the will of God with complete trust. If we just are aware (here is the key: “aware”), we may do choices spontaneously without the need of trapping our minds into thinking and thinking about risks, people’s reactions, future impact, etc of every decision.

We should let go the need to evaluate whether we did right or wrong decisions. Let’s list some of the “wrong” decisions we have made and then write all the good things that came from them. I’m sure we find great things coming out of those “wrong” choices. “Every event in life can be causing one of two things: (1) It’s good for you; or (2) It’s bringing what you need to look at in order to create good for you.”

Life is self-correcting, so don’t hammer or punish your Self when you think you have made the wrong choice or when things don’t go as “planned.”

See the possibilities in “whatever” happens. When you don’t get what you wished, ask yourself where am I supposed to look? And just be open to change course to a new, maybe even richer experience!