Spirit Level - Strength is where you least expect it.

Friends often tell me they dream of picking up and moving abroad. That is, until the thought of  logistics, language, visas… makes it feel too daunting a challenge. Change is hard when our ego says we are "fine where we are", but there's more to it than that. Where do we even begin? Perhaps just begin, by beginning…

A little about little me first… When I was eight years old, I was watching my mom put on makeup, when I blurted out “I want to move.” Confused, my mom asked “oh, really? Where to?” my reply being “anywhere interesting”. Years later, it was announced that we were moving to the most interesting of places - Paris. It was as though all my Christmasses had come at once, but my dream was not quite a perfect match for reality.

I found myself in French grade-school, unable to speak the language, with no friends and in totally unfamiliar surroundings. It was sink or swim. Well, I sank, I scrambled, I fumbled, I flunked, until one day… I flourished. I had no choice but to figure things out. Speaking the language meant I could connect with others. That single word connection changed everything.

No sooner had I got my feet on firm French ground, Mom was already positioning us to move back to the US. I landed in California dressed like I was from another planet. And so it began again… New place, new beginnings. I floundered, I hid, yet eventually flourished again.

Looking back, I see that resilience isn’t something that I have because I’m special. We all have it. We can all do big things. What I didn’t understand then, but do now, is that courage and strength aren't loud and dramatic. They are part of the quiet decision to begin again even when we don’t feel ready.

So why do we wait for something to happen to us to find our strength? What if our desires are reason enough to step out of our comfort zone?

The recent move to France was chosen from something deeper; driven by a passion to create something special, steeped in purpose, beauty, connection and a longing to be.

Maybe your leap isn’t across continents. Maybe it’s a hobby, a new venture or a long-ignored dream. Whatever it is, listen to that whisper that says “there’s more”. One begins by beginning.

What is it for you? Please share.

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Milne

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place to be, but nothing ever grows there.” - John Assaraf