I left my heart in San Francisco, and as we begin making final preparations for our big trip, a quick jaunt to the Bay for some reconnecting and farewells made sense for a lot of reasons.
Lives these days are busy and stressful. At the recommendation of a friend, I picked up a book at the airport entitled "Thank You for Being Late," and in the first few pages was hooked. It's an exploration of how technology, globalization and our impact on the environment have all accelerated to a pace never before seen in human history, and that we need to slow down and take stock. But ironically in opposition, we've come to cherish and tout how busy and stressed we are, wearing it like a badge of honor testifying to our grit, productivity and selflessness.
To create the time required for this trip, I had to quit a fast-paced, sometimes stressful job of more than six years in the heart of the tech industry. Our current culture and business climate do not make it easy for a family to go on walkabout (or "driveabout," in our case) -- doing so has already required taking some significant risks. Leaving beloved friends, a steady job with a highly regarded company, and a safe daily rhythm has proven heart-wrenching, requiring difficult choices that, in some regards, feel foolhardy and irresponsible.
But ultimately, the opportunity to explore, experience, see the world from the flipside, learn lessons not available any other way -- to expose our kids to the world and its people -- won over.
Let life's next adventure begin.
