Have Patience

As a child, I would sit for hours many times listening to a record called "The Music Machine"...a record filled with songs about important life lessons. One of my favorite songs, sung by none other than Herbert the Snail, was "Have Patience". As I listen to this song again while writing this post, I am reminded that patience is unfortunately a skill I have not yet perfected.

Two years ago my husband, Jason, our dog Delaney, and I loaded up all of our belongings in a U-Haul and began the 20-hour trek from Massachusetts back to Iowa...our eternal safe zone. Moving across country is something that Jason and I have become quite good at. Over the last 8 years together we have lived in Iowa, California, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. One might think we work in the Armed Forces or that perhaps we are running from the law. Alas, neither is true:) We have been running the last several years...to find ourselves...to find one another...to find that 'perfect' job, location, environment that we could spend the rest of our lives...or at least more than two years at a time.

Our East Coast adventure had been one of challenges, opportunities, experiences and adventures. The adventure came abruptly to a halt in late June 2008. On a beautiful, clear Friday summer afternoon, I had just returned from one of my favorite running locales to a phone call from Jason...he had just lost his job. I felt like I had taken a massive blow to the stomach, I couldn't breathe. I tried to remain calm as Jason filled me in with the details and I waited patiently for him to arrive home safely. I had no idea what we would do...how were we going to pay rent, buy groceries, put gas in our cars. I was literally scared...to death. And so the running began, again.

According to experts, among a variety of life-altering events, such as death in the family, divorce, and serious illness, losing your job ranks among the highest in stress-causing situations. Unfortunately, we can both attest to this statement with first-hand knowledge. The last two years have been the most challenging, stressful, emotionally, physically and psychologically exhausting of my 31 years of life. There were days that I didn't want to get out of bed, that I could do nothing but blame Jason for our situation, for requiring us once more, to come back to our safety zone. It has taken much strength, patience, and adversity but we have seen this challenge through. We have learned much about each other in the process and have a new found respect for those that face such challenges with much more to overcome. In retrospect, I truly do believe everything happens for a reason. I have yet to fully discern what that is...but...that's part of the journey right?