Love Does Things

I was talking with a friend the other day about the lives we expected, the lives we desired in an earlier time, and those we lead now. I was marveling at how much some of us change our dreams and aspirations over the years, while others of us have maintained the same standard of ideal from an early age.

As you might have guessed based on the numerous identity crisis I have shared with my readers over the years I am one of those that have changed. Drastically.

Some of those changes I owe to friends — one in particular whose bluntness I am forever grateful for — some I owe to unavoidable, but not always pleasant life experiences but most I owe to one thing. Love.

It’s said that love does things of which we are not proud. In my experience however, love does things that we never imagined we’d be proud of but that, in the moment, we deeply are.

When I was young I wanted to change the world. I wanted to save the world. I wanted to be a powerful attorney — there were no attorneys in the town I grew up in so, in hindsight, this was probably largely a function of how mysterious they seemed, but nonetheless. I wanted to pioneer environmental legislation measures, I wanted to storm capitol hill. I wanted to advocate for women’s rights. I wanted to blaze a trail.

I suppose I still do. I still want to help revolutionize the way we treat our planet, particularly in the production of food. And I still think everyday of ways to advocate for women’s rights; how to blaze a trail doing both. But today I’m dreaming of doing it in a much different way and for once I’m happy right where I am. That’s an incredible feeling.

Tagged as: direction, happiness, life, photoblog, Reflection, work