Building a New Life
Start where we are with what we have...
I was just posting a reply to a note someone had said when replying to a comment that I had made to their statement which involved, among other things, “crying on the kitchen floor.”
The fact that I had been there sometime in the late fall or early winter of 1997 when I was living on the eighth floor of “The Wellington” in the North Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh brought that feeling of desolation back to the present moment, even as it is nearly 28 years later. We all go there from time to time. I was, at the time, just finished with my graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh. I would be called back to teach as adjunct faculty in the Spring Semester of 1998, but right then, I was at a bottom. Now, that’s how it felt. It wasn’t actually true. It never is as there is no bottom, nor top, even when it feels like it is. I had stretching out before me the three decades I have lived. Right then, however, I needed to take that moment.
….and only a moment.
Because in a short time, I picked myself up off the floor and began to inventory what I had. This is always a good practice. As I did this, my mood shifted from dejection to being delighted. I had friends. I had an extensive network. I had my health, such as it was. I was able to take constructive action and began to do just that. I built a new life.
So, a phone call came in from the Chief Conservator of the Carnegie Museum of Art that offered me a part-time paid internship assisting a paper conservator in a rematting project. The call from Pitt came in offering me an opportunity to teach again in the Spring Semester and soon, the Chief Conservator’s secretary quit to take another job and I was offered the position - full time. From 1998 through 2000, I’d do what I could to improve my situation including taking the chance of moving to Denmark to work for a small Web software company who were building a Web content management system which they hoped would take over the world. These days, the vision they had is being realized by Sitecore. They would collapse by 2003 or so. I would be back in the USA by September 30, 2002. However, I had done with what I had what I could and am here now. This matters. It ALL matters.
I could go on and expound on the events and likely will as time allows. In the meantime, we are all in this thing called “Life” together and can help each other out. Please subscribe and leave a comment if you feel so moved. Let’s harrow the fields of our imagination together.
If you are interested, I’m looking for guests to join me on Harrowings Podcast as well. Think about it! We have a great chance here to create something greater than us alone.
Sometimes to break free from the shackles of regret need a lot a clear head and calm mind. I think building a new life comes with fresh beginning and new thinking and letting go of the past. Being in the bottom drive someone like me crazy sometimes.
I like your approach, we dig where we stand – where else? That attitude is a good door opener. And useful. Here is another one: the SOLUTION is the problem's other side – give it your focus.