And One Day Turned Into One Thousand It all started with a single day. That day was three years ago today, I set out on my biggest adventure yet. I had my tiny car packed as full as possible and one of my best friends in the passenger seat next to me. The drive started out filled with tearful goodbyes and an excitement fueled rush of adrenaline. We headed across the plains with the drum of thunder and the patter of millions of raindrops hitting my car. I looked in the rear view mirror hoping to keep sight on home for as long as possible. The rains stopped and the sun began to set as we crossed into the dry deserts of New Mexico. At some point I looked to my right and asked Michelle to tell me I was crazy, to grab the steering wheel from me and whip us into a U-turn headed for home. She looked at me with her calm, reassuring smile and said “This is awesome” and other affirmations like “you’re not crazy, you’re doing the right thing.” I smiled in agreement but deep in my heart there was still the angst of leaving everyone and everything I loved to head into a city where I was nonexistent, had no home, no job, and less than a handful of friends. We drove all night through the giant expanse, the sky lit up like glitter blown on black velvet, by the millions of stars shining down and guiding our path. I rolled down the windows to let the fresh desert air whip through my hair wildly—it kept my eyes open and focused on the journey. My head was heavy with “what if” and “what am I going to do.” I remember pulling over to grab 45 minutes of sleep at a tourist stop and waking to the fiery glow of sunlight cast across the Arizona desert as the sun crept over the mountains on the distant horizon. You’ll never see such a beautiful or more peaceful thing than this. I remember thanking God in those moments for the excitement that was happening in my life. I remember feeling peace and knowing this was good. Early that day we pulled out of the desert and into the mountains which lie on the outskirts of the city that would be my new home. I took a deep breath. I was there. It was time to take this challenge on full force. One day at a time, because that’s all I could do. I had no plans. I had no goal. I just had to keep moving—to do something. In the last 3 years I’ve learned a thing or one hundred. The primary lesson I learned being the pain of solitude and loneliness, and how to use it to give me strength and independence. I had never really been alone before coming to Los Angeles. I had never been without friends, dates, and a slew family members within my reach every day. This was different and terrifying to me. If one could count the times I sat on my bed, eyes red and swollen with hot sticky tears, asking myself why I had done this—why had I left everyone I loved to pursue these dreams I’d had since I was young, it would be an incredible feat. My mother often sat at the other end of the phone line telling me “You can’t give up now, I really feel like this is where you are supposed to be, just hang in there one more day,” and I would. I would hang in there one more day and get a gig to carry me just far enough to the next. Just enough hope to know I was taken care of, I was provided for, I was given just what I needed. My bank account was empty, my heart was tired. There wasn’t much I could do other than say a prayer and take on another day. I did. Then, another day turned into over 1,000 more days. I’m not sure how one day turned into over one thousand. I’ve never been more exhausted, drained, or felt weaker than I have in the time I have been here. This has actually been a good thing because it’s in our weakness that we discover where our true strength lies. I feel like I succeeded, not by my own merit, but by the merit of the source from where my strength comes. In one thousand days, I learned the beauty of many different kinds of folks. I’ve never been surrounded my a more diverse, talented, incredible group of people. I will miss every single one of them more than I can convey, not just for what they gave to me, but for what they taught me to give to others. My work family is invaluable. They carried me on, just one more day. In one thousand days, I learned what really matters in life, what success is actually of value. I’ve achieved more than I thought possible and had experiences I will never forget. I’ve met many of my heroes, I’ve been a part of things I hope I can tell my kids and grandchildren someday. My heart cannot express the gratitude that is overflowing for the excitement and blessings I have experienced. These made it feel worth it, these carried me on just one more day. In one thousand days, I laughed even through the hardest times, while living with the most rambunctious, intelligent, and generous group of guys and gals. I forgot my fears, I forgot my sadness, because of their friendship. They made me smile, they carried me on just one more day. In one thousand days, I made friends with a good old southern girl like me. She showed me that there were people here like the ones back home, that I could love just as much. She taught me that perseverance and not giving in reaps the greatest rewards. She was more than right. She carried me on just one more day. In one thousand days, I made my travel dreams come true. I fell in love like never before, and became a stronger woman by being with someone who had also started a great adventure with just one day. Though he’s been far for most of it, he’ll never know the ways he carried me through just one more day. In one thousand days, I experienced opportunity and abundance like never before. In the areas of love, healing, growth, passion, and adventure, my cup is currently running over. It has carried me on just one more day. In one thousand days I became a completely different person. This person is presumably a little older, a little wiser, a little stronger, hopefully a little less stubborn, and a bit more humble. The person is healed and new, a little more loving, and a lot more hopeful. I’m nowhere near the end of this adventure, just this chapter. The next will start with one day. And again, one day will turn into one thousand. posted on 15.06.10

And One Day Turned Into One Thousand

It all started with a single day. That day was three years ago today, I set out on my biggest adventure yet. I had my tiny car packed as full as possible and one of my best friends in the passenger seat next to me. The drive started out filled with tearful goodbyes and an excitement fueled rush of adrenaline. We headed across the plains with the drum of thunder and the patter of millions of raindrops hitting my car. I looked in the rear view mirror hoping to keep sight on home for as long as possible. The rains stopped and the sun began to set as we crossed into the dry deserts of New Mexico.

At some point I looked to my right and asked Michelle to tell me I was crazy, to grab the steering wheel from me and whip us into a U-turn headed for home. She looked at me with her calm, reassuring smile and said “This is awesome” and other affirmations like “you’re not crazy, you’re doing the right thing.” I smiled in agreement but deep in my heart there was still the angst of leaving everyone and everything I loved to head into a city where I was nonexistent, had no home, no job, and less than a handful of friends.

We drove all night through the giant expanse, the sky lit up like glitter blown on black velvet, by the millions of stars shining down and guiding our path. I rolled down the windows to let the fresh desert air whip through my hair wildly—it kept my eyes open and focused on the journey. My head was heavy with “what if” and “what am I going to do.” I remember pulling over to grab 45 minutes of sleep at a tourist stop and waking to the fiery glow of sunlight cast across the Arizona desert as the sun crept over the mountains on the distant horizon. You’ll never see such a beautiful or more peaceful thing than this. I remember thanking God in those moments for the excitement that was happening in my life. I remember feeling peace and knowing this was good.

Early that day we pulled out of the desert and into the mountains which lie on the outskirts of the city that would be my new home. I took a deep breath. I was there. It was time to take this challenge on full force. One day at a time, because that’s all I could do. I had no plans. I had no goal. I just had to keep moving—to do something.

In the last 3 years I’ve learned a thing or one hundred. The primary lesson I learned being the pain of solitude and loneliness, and how to use it to give me strength and independence. I had never really been alone before coming to Los Angeles. I had never been without friends, dates, and a slew family members within my reach every day. This was different and terrifying to me. If one could count the times I sat on my bed, eyes red and swollen with hot sticky tears, asking myself why I had done this—why had I left everyone I loved to pursue these dreams I’d had since I was young, it would be an incredible feat. My mother often sat at the other end of the phone line telling me “You can’t give up now, I really feel like this is where you are supposed to be, just hang in there one more day,” and I would. I would hang in there one more day and get a gig to carry me just far enough to the next. Just enough hope to know I was taken care of, I was provided for, I was given just what I needed. My bank account was empty, my heart was tired. There wasn’t much I could do other than say a prayer and take on another day. I did. Then, another day turned into over 1,000 more days.

I’m not sure how one day turned into over one thousand. I’ve never been more exhausted, drained, or felt weaker than I have in the time I have been here. This has actually been a good thing because it’s in our weakness that we discover where our true strength lies. I feel like I succeeded, not by my own merit, but by the merit of the source from where my strength comes.

In one thousand days, I learned the beauty of many different kinds of folks. I’ve never been surrounded my a more diverse, talented, incredible group of people. I will miss every single one of them more than I can convey, not just for what they gave to me, but for what they taught me to give to others. My work family is invaluable. They carried me on, just one more day.

In one thousand days, I learned what really matters in life, what success is actually of value. I’ve achieved more than I thought possible and had experiences I will never forget. I’ve met many of my heroes, I’ve been a part of things I hope I can tell my kids and grandchildren someday. My heart cannot express the gratitude that is overflowing for the excitement and blessings I have experienced. These made it feel worth it, these carried me on just one more day.

In one thousand days, I laughed even through the hardest times, while living with the most rambunctious, intelligent, and generous group of guys and gals. I forgot my fears, I forgot my sadness, because of their friendship. They made me smile, they carried me on just one more day.

In one thousand days, I made friends with a good old southern girl like me. She showed me that there were people here like the ones back home, that I could love just as much. She taught me that perseverance and not giving in reaps the greatest rewards. She was more than right. She carried me on just one more day.

In one thousand days, I made my travel dreams come true. I fell in love like never before, and became a stronger woman by being with someone who had also started a great adventure with just one day. Though he’s been far for most of it, he’ll never know the ways he carried me through just one more day.

In one thousand days, I experienced opportunity and abundance like never before. In the areas of love, healing, growth, passion, and adventure, my cup is currently running over. It has carried me on just one more day.

In one thousand days I became a completely different person. This person is presumably a little older, a little wiser, a little stronger, hopefully a little less stubborn, and a bit more humble. The person is healed and new, a little more loving, and a lot more hopeful. I’m nowhere near the end of this adventure, just this chapter. The next will start with one day.

And again, one day will turn into one thousand.