I am having a tough time feeling grounded this evening. As I have noted in previous posts, I am spending at least five months in a beautiful apartment in Maine in the same city where I grew up. I am surrounded by the Atlantic, beaches, boats and birds. All the while, I am still purging stuff from my move from New York, and from the move from my mother's house (which we sold). We have been purging constantly, clearing away unnecessary clutter and sorting through endless family photos. While this is very time consuming, it feels so good to get things in order before I prepare to make the big move.
Right now, I am working on a TEFL certification class. I want to teach Business English (my own business) as an added income stream to my freelance writing and my life coaching. Lucky for me, I also have ESL experience. Multiple income streams is the perfect balance. These are not flash-in-the-pan ideas here. I've been working on this plan actively since 2005. Now, I'll add EFL to the list! I've also been doing lots of networking as I plan to move to Paris, but I still have lots more to do. And I am SO ready!
Here in Maine, I have a storage unit which is constantly being purged and sorted. I just found a storage unit in Paris I plan to use as soon as I am ready to relocate my belongings! Here's the one I'm thinking of using. Any other suggestions out there? (I also found a helpful list of resources.) I've accepted the fact that the next year of my life will involve storage units. While I have gotten rid of many, many items, I recently purchased some Ikea furniture, as I had to sell / donate almost all of my furniture I owned in New York. Most of it was too bulky and not easily portable. In hindsight, I should have owned Ikea furniture when I lived on the Upper West Side, but the past is the past. C'est la vie! Forward is the new direction!
As I sit here typing this blog entry, I realize there is so much to be done. But then I think about Michelle Obama who is a great planner, organizer and multi-tasker. I need to shift into this kind of thinking, take things step by step, and make sure to take time out to walk on the beach where I am now! Being in the moment is also important when designing a new life.
I think I just need to say out loud to the Universe this evening that at 46, I am reflecting on the various reasons why this move did not take place much earlier in my life. While there are many events based in choices I made in the past and changes in my family life for which I am glad I was present, I want to admit that I wish I had moved to Paris after my divorce in 1996. I wish I had remarried (in Paris!!) before I had early menopause (at 41 - 42.) That feels better. It's good to say this!
After divorce, I had eight years of crazy so-called dating experiences which, perhaps, provided important lessons to be learned. I always say everything happens for a reason, and somestimes we just need to get things out of our system and build character. I always knew it would not be a good idea to remarry right away. No. I traveled a lot and had some amazing opportunities. Living in Manhattan was both unexpected and challenging, but mostly wonderful. So I certainly do not regret the eight years I spent there leading up to my move to Paris. Even living in Maine again during this period of transition was unexpected and is bittersweet; a chance to appreciate where I grew up.
And so I engage in acceptance of who I am, and where I am at this time. And I am reminded of where I was living when my dream of life in Paris first began: right here in Maine at age 15 after a family trip to Europe in 1978. When we believe in our dreams, the magic unfolds. When the teacher is ready, the student appears.
