Embracing Change

Jake and I are embracing change in 2017—big change—as we have decided to move to the Big Island of Hawaii. We spent 2+ months on the island in 2016 and upon returning to our beloved New Mexico we realized we were different. Between us, we’ve lived in New Mexico for over 75 years and yet, it no longer felt like home.

Deciding to move, selling our beautiful home, uprooting our lives has not been an easy journey. But easy is no longer our primary desire. Stretching, growing, changing, expanding, exploring, and taking risks that make us both feel more alive rather than safe are now our goals.

Some of our motivation to move has been driven by watching our parents lives narrow down to their ultimate small deaths. Most people’s lives end this way. They choose safety and comfort and narrow their worlds down to a smaller and smaller experience. We don’t want to do that.

We’d like to step up to what energy we have left before it’s too late and do something exciting, adventurous, and life expanding.

This takes sacrifice

We are leaving behind a lot that we love—family and friends and a local following. Though we will still connect over the Internet, we’ll miss seeing them in the flesh. Nothing replaces a hug. But we’ve experienced a sweetening of all our relationships knowing that our time together is limited and richer as a result.

Yes, our time together and life is always limited but this move is waking us up to what most of us want to ignore and as a result, we are making what time we do have be far more precious.

We are leaving behind a beautiful home on over 17 acres, backed up by thousands of acres of Indian land and national forest. We are letting go of the home we creatively designed and built together, and poured our hearts into. And we are moving to a place where we’ll get far less for our money. And yet, despite the seeming difficulties and challenges, we continue to excite ourselves and look forward to our future.

Uncluttering our lives

We’ve especially enjoyed the uncluttering of our lives. We’re letting go of the years of collected things that we’ll never use but could not part with. Things that have gathered in closets, the attic and the storage shed, and we are freeing ourselves as we pass them on to thrift stores, family, friends and the like. Releasing this clutter has become a way of growing younger and more liberated, rather than hanging on to it all like some antiquated sense of ourselves.

Uncluttering and letting go includes grieving and feeling anxious about all we’re leaving as we step into the unknown. These feelings are all essential parts of choosing change and growth rather than safety. If the leaving weren’t difficult, maybe it wouldn’t be so meaningful.

In the big picture it feels wonderful to Zen up, step into the unknown, and take charge of our 3rd act rather than allow our lives to narrow down to nothing before our final letting go.

We’re taking a big leap and we’re happy for the journey.

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6 Responses to Embracing Change

  1. Elyn Aviva January 2, 2017 at 12:12 pm #

    As fellow adventurers, we share your excitement and enthusiasm. It ain’t easy to uproot and shift–but so what? I just read that to “grow” a “supermind” as you age requires pushing into uncomfortable territory, both intellectually (stretching to learn something hard like a new language or new concepts) and physically (exercising until you’ve pushed your limits). According to this new research, staying alert and flexible in mind and body requires exercising both until they hurt. Just yesterday I told Gary, “We have to keep expanding as we get older–not shrinking and contracting until our world becomes smaller and more constraining.” Just what you said, Hannah! So–hurrah for your exciting future–and your growing-edge present!

  2. Jean Adams January 2, 2017 at 2:10 pm #

    Thank you for this thoughtful and timely post. I have finally encouraged myself to take a leap as well, letting go of a career I’ve mastered for one I have fascination for but know little about – yet!
    The old feels stifling and like I’m just marking time and the new feels expansive and exciting, though there’s much to learn. I am finally more afraid to stay in the old than to take the new and run with it!
    Yes, hurrah for your exciting future, Hannah and Jake!
    To new beginnings, expansion and the embrace of life!

  3. Rachel Vass January 2, 2017 at 3:55 pm #

    Bravo!!! I look forward to seeing you there. I am taking a two week exploration trip with my niece to Kona Jan 14-27. Haven’t been to Hawaii in years but the stars lined up and I’m planning on making it one of my vacation spots. When’s your first retreat there going to be? It’s such a short plane ride from Alaska and I look forward to our paths crossing.

    Love Bubbles

  4. Donna January 2, 2017 at 7:47 pm #

    Bravo!!!

  5. Donna January 2, 2017 at 7:50 pm #

    BRAVO!!! you two rock the adventurer in me. LOL. Donna

  6. Marby Morgan January 3, 2017 at 7:10 am #

    So glad to hear you are going to follow your heart and move to Hawaii. After all, home is where the heart is. Having made the big move 10 years ago from Cape Cod to The Villages, Florida, I recall the emotional roller coaster of leaving home, friends and family. We decided that if it does not fit in the two cars, it is not coming with us. So we started fresh and have never looked back. No mo’ sno. Love the warmth, walking barefoot all year long, beautiful sunsets, lots to do and many new friends we consider our family here. You will love the freedom and the thrill of beginning a new way of life.
    Never having been to Hawaii, I look forward to the prospect of a future retreat there with you.
    Lots of love and hugs, Marby

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