The Exquisite Scarcity of a Truly Good Day

by robin on August 30, 2011

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Me in my teepee

Today was a good day. Truly, exquisitely good. It’s important to hold onto days like these when you’re in the midst of a disruptive “growth period” (that’s a nice way of saying big, scary change), because truly good days are precious and rare and, when you keep them close to your heart, they will help soften the inevitable hard parts that accompany disruption.

As you may know, I’m in a bit of a disruptive state myself. I just moved to California for a new job, and for the next few weeks, I live in a teepee while hubby packs up our home, our cats and our entire life in Portland. It is very lonely and very hard and I was totally unprepared for the culture shock I’d feel from moving just one state south (things I’ve recently learned about California: amazing Mexican food, pervasive car culture, way more sunshine, and… dress shorts???). But it is also exactly what I need to do, not in spite of the fact that it’s hard but rather because of it.

Blogger Whitney Johnson remarks about disruption that “if it feels scary and lonely, you’re probably on the right track.” And that, especially, is why we must cherish the truly good days, the days when things make sense and the world doesn’t seem cold, confusing and uncertain. When the going again gets hard and your path seems strewn with obstacles, you can draw on the memory of good days like water from a spring, and they will carry you through.

Hold them close, these scarce, exquisite, priceless days. You will need them. And that is how you will know that your path is worthwhile.

Tagged as: california, disruption, teepee

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

spacer Brian Driggs August 30, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Sooth.

Over here in Phoenix, where we only have two seasons, and the hot one feels hotter and longer with each successive instance, this is the time of year I think about how much I would like to move to Portland. (Seriously. Consistently, this time of year, for at least three years.) Or Toronto. Or Anchorage.

If I moved, however, I would miss Mexican food. I would miss the car culture. I would miss the stark beauty of the open desert, unmolested by agriculture or industry. I would miss the sunshine, the often diabolical cacti, and even the giant wall of only recently very publicized wall of dirt preceding each summer storm.

These experiences are the building blocks of truly good days. At the heart of the stories we share between us, these are the common threads in which we feel a sense of pride – in our communities, in our ability to identify with each other. When it all comes together just right, we enjoy the rarefied air of a truly good day, but let’s not overlook the smaller wins all around us every day.

Press on regardless, Robin.

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spacer Duncan August 30, 2011 at 4:53 pm

It’s scary how much your description of California could be a description of Atlanta.

I love the Bay area — when you get yourself settled you’re going to be wildly happy that you took the job (and the teepee, though hopefully you’ll have maybe upgraded to wigwam or a yurt soon. It’s a buyer’s market. Or something.)

If you get the chance to meet @lauralippay (formerly of Yahoo! and CNet and Ringling Bros [really]) I suggest you grab it. That lady is 1) awesome and 2) unbelievably informative and generous with her knowledge and 3) hilarious. I haven’t met her, but interviewed her for a piece I wrote last year.

Keep the scary feeling — it’s way better for you than the comfortable one.

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