With Gratitude

I was once told I’ll probably always be single because I insist on doing everything for myself. How can you expect any man to want to be with you if he doesn’t feel needed?, they said.

Let’s sidestep the bajillion things wrong with that statement (what is this, 1950?!) and focus instead on a lesson learned in the last six months, a lesson that in some strange way actually segues well from that sentiment, however backwards it may be.

Put simply, the last six months of my life would not have been possible on my own. Not in the slightest.

So it it was the most genuine part of me that I say Thank You. Thank you to so many people, near and far, who’ve been a part of the journey that’s gotten me to this point. If you’re reading this and you’re not sure if I’m talking about you? I am. I promise.

Thank you for your positive vibes, your words of encouragement. Thank you for not trying to talk me out of any of it. Thank you for being there – physically being there to move boxes and furniture, to drive across the country with me, to pour me a drink when I needed it and cook me a meal when I craved it. Thank you for being there in spirit, sending me travel and moving advice, book recommendations and interviewing pro-tips. Thank you for storing my life’s possessions while I was west, and for getting them in the truck headed east. Thank you for the cards and letters, the emails and Facebook posts to keep me going, to keep me feeling connected from wherever I happened to be checking in.

It’s an interesting thing, this pursuit of happiness business we’re all set on. We all find it in our own ways, we all seek to cultivate it in our everyday lives. I’m not sure what it is about my particular pursuit, but I’ve always known it wouldn’t be accomplished from just one place. I’ve always known I was on a journey leading somewhere beyond where I was, and it’s an incredible feeling to have landed where I have in that pursuit.

The only thing that could make it any better would be to have you all here with me. To gather you each around a long table in a lush garden somewhere. I picture a dinner party to out-do all dinner parties. A never-ending table filled with your favorite dinner and plenty of wine, music somewhere off in the distance filling the air as we all enjoy just being in each other’s presence, as we toast the pursuit and cultivation of happiness in each of our lives.