September 9, 2012
Daily Photo Tour - A Place to Feel at Home
It's Sunday night. Monday is almost here. When the sun rises, I shall embark on what I expect will be an interesting week. It will be the last one with my employer of seven years. Soon I will be at a different school district. I'm excited. I'm pensive. I am bittersweetly retrospective. At 27, if I break down the numbers, I've spent a little more than 25% of my life here. The feeling is surreal. The change has come swiftly. It feels like a dream.
A very dear friend was sharing with me yesterday evening the importance of time, how it's the most valuable thing we have and how we can choose to give it to others. We can use it to show people that they are worth something, that they're accepted and loved. It's something I take for granted because I'm blessed to have some really amazing people in my life that make me feel those things on a consistent basis.
As I sat down with this picture earlier, none of this was on my mind. It was just me and Radiator Springs and I was wishing I was there. Then the word "Cozy" really started standing out. It's the perfect word for this place. Radiator Springs is one of those places with its priorities set right, where folks are accepted and valued. That acceptance, which leads to feeling cozy, can give you a place to feel at home, no matter where you are.
My new job means moving. Not real far but far enough to feel unfamiliar. Far enough for me to consider new ways to give my time to the people I love, people who won't be a few minutes away. Far enough that I expect I will meet new people to give my time to and people who will give of their time to me. I know that good things are in store. I know that God loves me and has good plans for me and that makes me feel cozy. When I wake from this surreality, there will be a new place to feel at home.
Photo by Matthew Hansen
Comments (9)
Change is good in that it brings new ideas and incites to your life. Some people are afraid of change... I say it's always good to change in that it keeps life fresh and keeps it from getting boring.
Matthew, I just want to say, breath,take in all you can and when you start your new adventure remember all of us are traveling with you.
One of my hobbies is genealogy, and there's a saying when looking at dates on a tombstone. The persons life is not the first date to the last date, but instead it's the dashess in between the dates that are a persons life. So fill your life with dashes, you'll be glad you did. Enjoy your new dash!
Beautiful image and text to accompany it. I am so excited to hear about your new journey and the things that will come out of this next chapter of your life. So glad you were able to fill the "vacancy" with your new job! Congrats again!
Living knowing that your life is a vapor is different than just living. Things here are passing away. You’ve got to hold on to what will stand. Savor what matters. Life Is Short. Eternity Is Long. Live Like It.
What a beautiful message. It's so easy to let life changes get the upper hand and become something negative. With such a positive outlook, I have no doubt this will be an amazing adventure for you. Your friends that you know, along with MANY friends that you have here at TTD, wish you success and happiness. When I visit DL in November and see this sign for the first time, I will remember your message. Congratulations!
Good luck to you as you start a new adventure/chapter in life......
I always love admiring your guys' work here on Tours Departing Daily. The photography alone is breathtaking, but with the addition of the commentary, each post you share is truly a blessing. They are always brimming with thought-provoking reflections on life and eloquent reminders of what's really important-- words that continue echoing on my head long after I read them. Words that effectively touch my heart and soul.
This particular message really resonated with me. My 18th birthday is in several days, and then a week after this milestone in my life, I'll be departing for colllege, stepping out into the murky waters of the future. Your words perfectly describe how I feel about this stage of my life: "The feeling is surreal. The change has come swiftly. It feels like a dream." For the past few weeks I have been wallowing in this surrealism, my mind has been unable to grasp the fact that I'm leaving my home, my family, my community. Through the course of this summer I have been staring directly towards the future, and suddenly, in the rapid blink of an eye, it's within my grasp. It's a bittersweet mix of nervousness to start anew, regret for every moment that I've wasted that ought to have been spent relishing the company of my family and friends, reluctance to leave behind my past, and the fear that I'm *just not ready*.
Your words today were ones that I needed to hear-- I need to remember that no matter where I am, it's the people in our lives that make us feel at home. It's the love in our relationships that make life beautiful and meaningful. Instead of preoccupying myself with the worries of tomorrow or the regrets of the past, I need to have faith in what the future holds.
Thank you once again for sharing your beautiful insight on this time in your life along with every previous post on this blog. I wish you the best of luck as you embark on this new journey. :)
Thanks for taking the time to write this for your photo. It made my day. I appreciate all my "cozy" things as well. My family, my personal relationship with Jesus, and all the gifts he has blessed me with. And oh yes, Disneyland. It has become our summer retreat after several years of WDW. We found Disneyland back in 2007. It stole our hearts and now has become our cozy getaway place. I hope for good things for you in your new job. It's nice to hear that you gave God in your life and aren't afraid to speak of it. Again congrats and thanks for all the pics you post. It brightens so many of our days.
Mike in KC
Firstly, I am overwhelmed and beyond grateful for the response this post and my circumstance have received. It means a lot for anyone to take time from their day and share their thoughts here. When those thoughts are sincere well wishes, it means even more.
@disney rocks! - Couldn't agree more! Not always easy but definitely fresh and exciting.
@Disneyland Obsession - Great insightful tip, thank you! I have really been trying to focus on taking everything and every moment in.
@Daveland Web - Dave, you are always such an encouragement. I am so grateful for you and the kick in the butt you gave to all of us. I blame much of what is going on right now on you! I just hope that it's mutually advantageous...
@Roger - Beautiful and concise summary of a mentality we should employ every single day, thank you!
@Terry - Thank you so much Terry. I am so grateful for all of the friends we've made through this site and that we get to share in each other's lives. It's a special thing not to be taken for granted. I hope you have an amazing trip in November!
@Wendy - Thank you!
@Lyndsey - What an exciting time for you! I'm so glad this message struck a chord. It's beyond humbling to read that our posts are blessings. We strive to share what we're thinking/feeling because we figure we can't be the only ones, and if we're not the only ones, maybe others will find comfort in the fact that they aren't alone. We get to share our joys, struggles and burdens together. I am convinced that is a key part of life. It's so much easier when we share things. I have no doubt you're set for a great adventure. Happy 18th birthday!
@Anonymous - Mike, thank you. Disneyland is truly a special place and I'm glad you found it. We're still hoping to visit WDW someday. I'm not ashamed or afraid to talk about God. I would not be where I am without the many blessings He's given me and lessons He's taught me. :)