Category: creativity

Last Saturday, I hit a wall with unpacking and settling into my new apartment. As luck would have it, I had a chance to go to Washington Animal Rescue League to play with puppies. I’ve been looking for a companion dog for Phineas since he loved having Otis as constant company for the past year and a half. My friend, Jen, offered to go with me, and her friend, Julie, said she had found the potentially perfect match for Phin. Tired, worn, and reluctant, I went. And as luck (or providence, if your beliefs tend toward the divine) would have it, Julie and Jen were 100% right. We found the perfect match. She wasn’t what I thought she’d be. She was even better.

But I wasn’t ready. My apartment was a mess of boxes, piles of belongings, and bubble wrap. I had no furniture. I could barely keep my eyes open. This was not a time for a new dog. And still, I couldn’t stop thinking about that beautiful pup that we met. I kept imagining her in this apartment, rolling around on the floor with Phin. I thought about her meeting all of my friends. I thought about all the fun places I would take her and Phin, and how relieved I would feel that Phin had the perfect forever friend. The shelter doesn’t hold animals, and for good reason. I decided that if this sweet girl is meant for us, she would be available next weekend for us to take home into an apartment that is ready for her.

And now it looks like, yes, we will get her on Saturday. No one has adopted her yet, and I put in my application. No guarantees until everything is 100% complete, but the odds are looking good for us.

The lesson isn’t lost on me. Be clear about what you can and can’t do. Trust the process. Know that what you are seeking is also seeking you. And you don’t need to have it all figured out to move something forward. You just need the next step. And that’s exactly what we’ve got. Expect an update over the weekend on our new pack member!

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” ~Goethe

9 years ago, my former boss and always mentor, Bob G., sent me this quote. And since that day, its truth consistently rings in my mind. Once I decide to do something, against any odds and without any thought of turning back, the way opens.

A few weeks ago, I went through a tough disappointment and backed out of buying a condo for very sound and very unfortunate reasons. In the following weeks, I realized that I what I really wanted was a house, a whole house, not a condo. In D.C., that will take a lot more money and a lot more saving. Undeterred by the bigger price tag, I put myself on an aggressive savings plan. Some might say it is an impossible plan, and at the time, it absolutely was. I actually had no idea how I was going to hit that savings goal by the end of the year. Rather than shy away from it, I just decided to figure it out.

Then a strange thing started to happen: I began to get pings for new and interesting contract work that is completely doable (and fun!) in my free time. I couldn’t have foreseen any of these occurrence. I didn’t event know they were options.

Commit to a goal, and the universe rises up.

We can hold so many emotions at once without compromising any of them. Yesterday I was relieved, heartbroken, and joyful. I was relieved that my move is complete. I was heartbroken by the hateful and despicable tragedy in Orlando. I was joyful and inspired watching the Tony Awards with the incredible breadth of talent and passion that art and artists hold. It’s one of the most marvelous things about life—we can feel everything if we open our hearts and minds to the world around us and the people we meet. The show goes on, and on, and on. And so do we.