I have been spending a great deal of time pondering children and life lessons lately. In particular, how my own unfinished business is quickly brought to view by the interactions and responses I find myself immersed in as my off-spring prepare to set sail into their brilliantly bright and unknown futures. On one hand, I envy (just a smidge) their youth and the roads they have not yet taken. Life is a giant adventure with new excitements around every corner. New people to meet and experiences to savor. New memories to create and stories to be lived. Everything is fresh and bright. On the other hand, this is a particularly challenging time to be starting out into business. Any business.
Alex is contemplating a huge adventure with a fair amount of risk involved. She and a friend moved into a new apartment last weekend and she has started a new job. Not the career of her dreams that dematerialized in a big puff of smoke right before graduation, but a job she is willing to give a shot. Alex always works hard and does her very best when she commits to anything so it was with a certain amount of happy surprise I found out she was considering taking a short term job many states away in the entertainment field.
I think this will be good for her. To be out of Chicago and on her own, forging ahead in an exciting industry. Exploring an elegant old city as far away from the Midwest as is possible in more ways than proximity alone. New Orleans will open a different culture to Alex, a foreign way of life that will shake her out of her comfortable Midwest roots. Alex will be forced to grow and evolve in a myriad of ways, some seen and some hidden away only to be discovered much later by the mature woman she will become in the future. What doors may open? Who may she cross paths with? What new skills will she realize she possesses? The possibilities are mesmerizing and endless.
My challenge here is to distance myself and what I think sounds like a fabulous opportunity and allow Alex the space to make her own decision. This is her life, not mine. She knows how I feel AND what she decides to do has nothing to do with me. All is as it should be. Stay tuned for future updates!
New Orleans needs every bit of Alex. What a place to shine.
Posted by: Karen Maezen Miller | August 10, 2009 at 11:30 PM
How exciting for your Alex to be moving to New Orleans... this has seemed such an introspective summer for you, nestled in your families hearts. Have a beautiful week.. Roxanne
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | August 17, 2009 at 10:09 AM