A Day at the Beach

I'm guessing you're expecting selfies and bathing suit photos? Nope. Not that kind of beach trip. 

I worked on Chicago's northshore for just over five years. When I was feeling overly stressed or just needed something different to do at lunch, I would drive east 25 minutes to sit at the shore of Lake Michigan. It didn't give me much time to do anything but enjoy the view, but that was more than enough.

My favorite lunch spot

I'd become a bit stir crazy this past week, so on a sunny day I hopped in my car to go for a drive. I drove myself here subconsciously, soon doing my best to recognize old landmarks. It took just over an hour to get there, but it was worth it.

On a clear day you can see to... Michigan

I hate to swim, but I've always enjoyed listening to the water. It's something I've missed greatly since my return to the midwest... I hadn't realized how much until I arrived here. I spent nearly sixty minutes simply staring out at the lake and listening to the waves hit the shore. Had the smell of salt water been in the air, I could've convinced myself that I was back on the west coast. Instead, I forced myself to recognize the view as Chicago. As home.

The Great Lakes are not the Pacific ocean, but they can be damn impressive. I should take better advantage of them.

Down The Rabbit Hole

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been two months since my last confession blog post.

I know, right?! I have no idea how that happened either. I've thought about posting, but in the end I didn't. In the end, nothing felt 'interesting enough' to share.

That's the hurdle I've been struggling with... to make home interesting. In my life, I've always considered the adventure to be elsewhere. Home is the safe, stable place and the crazy, exciting part of life is in another city, another state, or another country. Home is where I come to do the job that earns me the money that allows me to go off and do the fun things. Not where the exciting parts of life happen. It's that mindset that's knocked me down into the rabbit hole.

You know that hole... where complacency and routine reign. Where you think, "Ugh, I'm tired. I'll go do that interesting thing next time" or "I should focus on the things I have to accomplish at work. That should be most important." That's a dangerous place to live and I fell right back into it.

It's so easy, though! We spend so much time there as adults it becomes our comfort zone. I was aware of this danger when I returned to Chicago and I vowed that I'd explore and experience the city as if it were new to me. And I did occasionally... but more often than not I fell back into old routines and habits... and down the rabbit hole I went.

So here I am, two months later, doing my best to drag myself out and look around. Yes, there are the dangers on the surface. You could get lost. You be caught in a storm without shelter. You could be hit by some asshole driving their car while texting. Anything is possible! The rabbit hole is safe because nothing changes. Nothing. Changes. ...God, that sounds horrible, doesn't it?

It is now my promise to you, dear reader, that I will post a minimum of twice a week from now on. As much as I hope to entertain and interest you, it will be my motivation to get out of my rabbit hole and find the interesting things at home. Because if this is where I'm spending most of my time... damn it, it should be fun.