A couple days after arriving in Bend, Oregon for good, I received this message from my friend Kristi:
“I was listening to an interview with Martha* [Beck] yesterday and thought of you...she talked about the importance of finding our place, that location in the world that we are uniquely drawn to. When we find that place, she said we must take a leap and spend as much time there as possible. These places are healing, restorative and enhance our connection to the universe and our creativity. And you just did this! Wow!!!”
Wow is right. Reading Kristi’s words brought tears to my eyes. I had been so focused on and consumed by The Move that I hadn’t fully grasped the significance of what I had just accomplished. I had successfully found my perfect place and took the leap to really be there. Being here, I am filled with all the attributes that define my perfect place. There is a sense of peace and ease and connection. It is warm and spacious, and filled with light. And there is abundant natural beauty with lots of color.
My perfect place is not limited to Bend, though.
What I have learned from identifying my perfect place is that it is not one place. My perfect place can be both a larger geographic region and a specific dwelling, and no doubt even more places than those. My perfect place also is not limited to a physical space. All those characteristics that define my perfect place exist internally too, within me when I am at my best as well as when I spend time with those friends, family, and even strangers with whom I share a deeper connection.
The best part of discerning what your perfect place feels like is that it provides an unmistakable sense of knowing when you have found that place or space. At least it does for me.
What does your perfect place feel like?
*I haven’t talked about it here before but I am the grateful beneficiary of Martha Beck’s work. The reason I have such a strong sense of my perfect place is because of the work I did with one of Martha Beck’s master coaches, Theresa Trosky. Working with Theresa, I found freedom from my limiting beliefs, learned to embrace who I am and the life I really want to lead, and found the courage to take the leap.