oh, to be like the moon.

“The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.” ― Deng Ming-Dao, Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

well, friends, it’s time to get moving on the next phase in this move back to the united states…. time to find a job.

am i overwhelmed? that’s an understatement. scared? totally. but, i’m not scared of not finding a job (perhaps i should be). what i am most scared of, is not being true to myself. of getting stuck in a job that i know in my soul is not the job for me. i know, i know. i must be realistic and accept a job that pays the bills and provides a sense of security. but, i am also determined to be true to who i am, to my dreams. i have lived a safe & secure life before. and i have also lived a life of risks and dreams. what i have found is that i am being more true to myself, and offering more to the world, when i chase those dreams and take those risks, than when i simply settle for what most people expect.

so, the quest in my life right now is to trust. to breathe. and to find a balance.

starting today, my head will be buried deep in the classifieds of the local newspapers. my email account will be burning from all the contacts i am trying to make.  my printer will be smoking from all the resumes i am printing. my knuckles will be white from all the doors i will be knocking on (literally & figuratively). and my mind will be open to new & different experiences.

what is my dream job anyway? well, ultimately i would spend my days writing and photographing and talking with people. i would love to be a mentor/teacher/counselor, working with social issues, such as lgbt rights/education, women’s rights, poverty, homelessness. a non-profit organization might just be a perfect match for me. of course, i would also love to work from a spiritual perspective – no certain denomination or religion, an ecumenical setting instead (though i do have a general belief system of my own). in addition, i also dream about taking some time to become a certified yoga instructor on the side.

so, north carolina/asheville people, if you are aware of anything that sounds like its right up my alley, please let me know! everyone else, keep sending me some positive vibes and saying little prayers. for me, this time is not simply about finding a job and a paycheck. it is about the next part of my journey in life.

i think i’m going to read the quote above every morning and every evening… letting the gentle power of the moon be my inspiration.

never forget who you are, my friends. and have a beautiful monday!

peace.