Life is spiraling…upwards
Three years ago to this week, we took the biggest leap of our lives and committed to move from our home in Marin to Portugal-- sight un-seen. We followed the call to adventure, not knowing Portugal would steal our hearts.
After spending two action-packed weeks back in Marin, we’re now selling the house that was the home we raised our kids in since they were 5 & 3 years old.
It was the perfect home, the perfect neighborhood in the perfect place for that time in our lives. And now it will be for the next young family.
The Bay Area, my lifelong roots, pulsed with memory. Reconnecting with college friends stirred shared laughter, my goofy side was alive again. Old ties feel new.
My first Phish concert in SF was electric. The crowd’s passion, lights pulsing, cracked me open. I’m hooked—communities like that spark joy.
Seeing friends and former classmates at my 25th MBA reunion in Berkeley was a beautiful reminder of how much has changed in our lives and how we can hold on to what was vs what is.
I now see that for me, getting an MBA was about pursuing validation, credibility and a more prestigious career…all things that I don’t care about now. But what does matter are all the amazing memories and relationships I made.
Initially I was wondering if I’d be the oddball amongst people still focused on climbing the corporate ladder but I was pleasantly surprised how many people are exploring what comes next, meaning and purpose. And even those who still are in the corporate world seem to have such a balanced perspective on it all.
I was humbled that some people who I haven’t connected with in 25 years have been following my journey these past few years. I guess you’ll never know who we are impacting by sharing authentically.
But the biggest surprise was family. Sparked by my sister-in-law, my brother, mom, and I tackled an awkward talk—moving Mom to assisted living. With open hearts, we found her a vibrant community; she’s excited for her move in next few weeks.
She has always crafted beauty for us—our homes, our lives. Now, my brother and I come together to support her new chapter. Gratitude fills me—her love spirals back.
While Marin’s not home anymore, my appreciation for our family, our friends and the beauty of the Bay Area (traffic not withstanding) is only growing.
Tania and I talk about in just a few years we’ll be freebirds able to spend more time in the Bay Area but for now we’re loving growing roots here.
Life spirals upwards, circling back to familiar places from a higher perspective —each turn shows me: trust the unknown, amazing experiences are waiting for you there and when you return with lessons learned. What’s your spiral revealing?