The First Day Of The Rest of My Life

I had more than a few people ask my on Saturday, "So, how does it feel?"

“Honestly, it’s Saturday and I would have been off anyway so I really don’t know yet. Ask me on Monday.”

Now it’s Monday and I am semi-freaking out. First, let me tell you how good it feels to Not wake up earlier than God, go through a morning ritual and pack on to an El train. Let me also say how good it feels to have my alarm clock be my dog, Mojo, and not NPR on my clock radio.

But I am awake at a slightly early time due to a twinge of anxiety. I did the whole, Oh-My-God-I’ve-Overslept moment when Mojo came in, and then remembered that I have nothing to oversleep today. The anxiety kind of kicked in from there but it’s getting better. However, I could not go back to sleep and felt the best therapy in the moment was to write.

A number of people have either e-mailed me or come up to me and let me know that my decision is one that they admire, applaud and want to emulate in their own lives. Many of them are considering leaving their jobs and finding out what they want to do and looking to put their foot in the ass of a dreaded job. Great. Go for it. By all means, I can use all the support I can get.

But please, for the love of God, do not do this without some serious consideration. This has not been an overnight decision, nor am I ‘just winging it’ (as much as I would like people to believe I am.) This has been a most calculated decision and I do it because the only person for whom I am ultimately responsible is myself. I have said this before, I have no wife, no kids – no other living thing depends on my ability to generate income. What’s more, I have a good support system in place should I fall on financially hard times.

Don’t worry mom and dad, it’s not you.

This little experiment isn’t necessarily a battle cry for the working class to cut the ties to their desks, rise up and walk out. Many people who read this love their job and are excited about it before their head is off the pillow. I envy them.

This is simply a corner of support for those who want to find more fulfillment in life. It just so happens that for me, I have chosen the aforementioned drastic route, but for others, it may be something like taking that piano class they have always wanted to take.

What is it you have always wanted to do but have never made room for because it did not seem important at the time? What has taken a back seat to overtime, extraneous commitments and television? (That last one is quite possibly the biggest life-snatcher of them all)

Those things that could always wait are the most important things in your life because something about them stirs something inside of you. And I would wager that exploring them will lead to finding a fullness of life, fun and maybe even a little happiness.

For me, that first thing is guitar lessons. I have wanted to learn since I was a child and have gone long enough without knowing how to play.

What’s yours? Click on the word “Comments” below and let us all know what it is you want to dive in to but have always put on the back burner?

Go on. Time's a-wastin'.