"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"

Friday morning I awoke to the sound of Stoney LaRue singing Oklahoma Breakdown. This meant that one of my dear friends from out of state was calling. Enthusiastically I rolled over and grabbed to phone. “Wakey, Wakey,” I heard on the other end. Now I will spare you all the dialogue from that morning conversation and cut to the chase. He was calling to tell me he had quit his job and was planning to go live in Brazil for a while. He had gone to Brazil earlier this year and I was privileged to hear about this wonderful trip when he came to Texas for work and stayed with me. Even the day after his return from Brazil he was itching to go back and see more. Since college he has made quite a name for himself and has had no problems moving up the ladder of success. So leaving his job created an open door to experiencing the inner happiness he already has. He told me how all of his friends thought he was being crazy and after my 20 “motherly” questions I congratulated him for doing something that HE wanted to do. I’m proud of him I mean, heck he is 26, what better time to take off and do something you have dreamed about.

After we got off the phone I let this whole idea of quitting your job and moving to a different country resonate within me. What courage that must have taken for him to go in and tell his boss he was resigning and then to tell his parents about this new life path he has chosen. Now granted I don’t envy him for having to do all of that but deciding to set out and doing something for himself. I mean how often in life do we get the opportunity to chase something that we think is just a dream. Now following through and actually achieving it and living it!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."--Henry David Thoreau

Though the thought of him in a different country makes me a tad bit anxious, I am so happy for him. If you could have heard the freedom and relief in his voice as he was telling me about this new chapter in his life, you would have encouraged him to take this chance as well. Granted I am going to miss all the free pens and gloves. But hey, having a friend in Brazil means a free place to stay when I decide to pick a vacation spot! Good luck my sweet friend.

Live it, Reap it!