tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868855424325917352011-07-07T15:35:45.259-07:00Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134625138860678588noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686885542432591735.post-43890652829399926332009-07-30T21:58:00.000-07:002009-07-30T23:20:33.140-07:00For almost two years now, I feel like I've been living life in a constant state of transition. After 23 years of living in the same place, I was compelled to leave. Honestly, it was mostly in order to chase the girl--the fact that I had landed a job in the coffee world just served as a practical means to the end. It was probably the one of the hardest things I'd had to do at that point, and adjusting to a completely new environment was difficult. In that time I struggled with both city life, maintaining a relationship lived through long drives up and down 400, having newfound financial responsibility, putting in long hours and doing some of the most intensive work I had ever done. Sounds awful, but during that I also: made friends, acquired a wagging-tailed daughter, had my mind exposed to the world of coffee, found an industry I'm passionate for, and had my relationship survive some tough trials. I finally started to get comfortable, and moving into the city with the person that was closest to me made it even better. I was ready for our city life together.<div><br /></div><div>Then, she died. Amidst tragedy, I had no choice but to cling to a hope that somehow this was all part of a higher plan, and that was so true. My life as I knew it had been reset. I felt like I needed to return back to my hometown, thinking I wouldn't have the strength to carry on alone in the city without her there. I was fortunate to keep working in coffee, and keep improving my craft. I had left my chances of ever finding "the one" to God, because I had little energy to try again. A few months later, someone would enter my life that obviously I wasn't expecting. Some questioned my ability to be ready for such a thing, but she came at exactly the right time, and that desire was instilled in me all over again. Here now I had things almost rebuilt: the job, the lady, the circle of friends, the roots replanted. Somehow I lost that job. I felt rather under-appreciated, misled, and the casualty of unethical business policy. However, there was a peace about the situation that told me I would be taken care of, and I believed that notion.</div><div><br /></div><div>My drive to further my career has led me back to the place where I once was. Atlanta. It was the only option worth pursuing. Within the week, I will joining those friends that I made, and rediscovering coffee all over again. There's details still to be worked out--housing, roommates, moving date(s), but it's not a concern. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've learned by this point to flow with where I'm being taken, and trust that i'll arrive safely wherever I'm meant to be. I have a family, a beautiful girlfriend, friends, and a dog who all support and encourage me. I also have the memory of a girl who is the most driven and motivated person I know, and I have no doubt she has left me with at least part of that spirit. I now do what I love to do, am supposed to do, and was taught to do--keep moving forward. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By your own soul, learn to live.</div><div>And if men thwart you take no heed.</div><div>If men hate you have no care.</div><div>Sing your song, dream your dream,</div><div>Hope your hope and pray your prayer.</div><div>-Parkenham Beatty</div><div><br /></div><div>Something has changed within me</div><div>Something is not the same<br />I'm through with playing by<br />The rules of someone else's game<br />Too late for second-guessing<br />Too late to go back to sleep<br />It's time to trust my instincts<br />Close my eyes<br />And leap...It's time to try defying gravity<br />I think I'll try defying gravity<br />And you can't pull me down</div><div>-"Defying Gravity" from Wicked</div><div><br /></div><div>"Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3686885542432591735-4389065282939992633?l=everythingdmax.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134625138860678588noreply@blogger.com39