I am listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic" on audio book. I have checked out this book at least 10 times, but I was never ready to read it. I knew it would challenge me, and I didn't want to be challenged.
I love Liz Gilbert's books. She is probably most famous for her memoir "Eat Pray Love" which I have never read. Back in 2016, I listened to Liz's podcast "Magic Lessons." Liz interviewed different guests who wanted to change their lives in big ways. I could hear Liz loud and clear, but I wasn't ready to change my life in a big way yet. I felt stuck in life, and I was sick of being a lawyer, but I didn't see any way out. I took career aptitude test after aptitude test.
I did change my life in a small way in 2017, when I took a transfer from Legal Aid of Nebraska's Norfolk office to Lincoln. I was ready to leave Norfolk. I had been there 10 years. I was bored, restless, and one of only 12 registered democrats.
I sold my house (on my own) loaded up a U-haul and moved to Lincoln. I thought a change of place and a new work challenge would "make me happy." All to quickly, I realized it was no magic fix.
I loved being back in Lincoln. The Lincoln of my 30's was so different than the Lincoln of my 20's. Instead of bars, there were galleries and bike trails and theater. I avoided the sea of red on Saturday and opted for quieter scenes: yoga studios and coffee shops.
I found a group of country dancers. I visited all the library branches. I worked and worked and worked. I nearly killed myself working.
Little did I know, my puddle jump from Norfolk to Lincoln prepared me for my big leap off the mainland and into the south Pacific. I knew my house would sell. I knew I could sell all of my stuff. I was ready. And it all came together like magic.
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