La Shawn Barber has long been one of my favorite Bloggers.
That's why she is in my "Food for Thought" Blogroll.
An "Independent Conservative" who writes about politics, faith, culture, digital technology "and, occasionally, how these things intersect."
Around since 2003, her blog has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, and in the Washington Post, and she has appeared on many national TV, and Radio shows.
La Shawn Barber's Corner is always a place worth visiting.
The other day she dropped a bombshell on her readers:
Every once in awhile, I’m motivated to take a risk, and the urge usually centers around my age. The older you become, the more you realize you have less time to pursue your dreams or reach that goal or do the hard thing you’ve been avoiding. For me, getting older has meant less lip service and more action. Time’s running out!
Well, it’s time to take another plunge, to give up one thing in order to gain another. Readers, I’ve decided to…
…leave DC and move to Southern California! Earthquakes and wildfires, here I come…
As usual La Shawn says something very profound, and thought-provoking, in the space of a very few words.
The older you become, the more you realize you have less time to pursue your dreams or reach that goal or do the hard thing you’ve been avoiding.
The last decade of my life has been one huge, ongoing journey of change, and growth, brought about through the taking of what, for me, were a series of huge risks, and choices:
1. Getting a computer, going online, and joining internet communities in 1998.
2. Taking my 1st plane rides, and solo vacations in 2000, and 2001, and another such adventure this year.
3. Quiting a lousy paying, comfortable job, of 18 years, to begin anew, then quiting that job, and moving to Orange County, after a lifetime in the Inland Empire.
4. Becoming a Blogger in 2002, and then a pioneering BikeBlogger, as well, in 2003, thus adding my voice to the ongoing, world-wide discussion, and debate, on everything under the sun that is the Blogosphere.
As a Blogger, I am a very small cog in the New Journalism Community, but as small as I am I HAVE been noticed from time to time, and have my readers and fans.
( My original blog is STILL in La Shawns Blogroll so I guess my efforts to inform her of the new direction, and to change the link, keep getting lost in E-Mail Hell! Hee, hee! )( Update 8pm - Thanks, La Shawn! Hee, hee! )I've been mentioned in presentations on cycling at conventions, and been quoted in a book!
I even have been invited to write about the Pacific Symphony of Orange County from time to time! (Unpaid, but I ain't complaining! I get to hone my writing skills in a most pleasing way.)
5. Tapping into my creative writing talent to write poetry.
6. Leaving retail for my current career, in 2004.
Like La Shawn I sort of find myself at a crossroads, too.
I'm not the same person I was a decade ago, not by a long shot, but I am still evolving, growing, learning.
I have dreams and asperations, but finding ways to make them happen is my biggest struggle.
I envy her being able to just pick up and move, lock, stock, and blogroll, clear across the country, and start a new chapter of her life.
Even with her talent, and resources, it can't be easy.
My job will be moving from Orange County to Long Beach, in October, but I will still have an easy bus commute.
However, this change has prompted me to begin to consider the direction of my life and career, and how I can add skills, and knowledge, to help in the evolution of both.
La Shawn asks for "suggestions on must-visit sites, and venues".
The best suggestion I have is to just get out of the house, and explore, especially the outdoors:
I have a list of links regarding Orange County Regional Parks, and Trails, in my sidebar, but there are similar resources available for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and the cities that inhabit them.
If you ride a bike then my BikeBlog has similar information in its sidebar, for most of Southern California.
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