At the end of July, my high school class had a milestone reunion. I had considered attending, but changed my mind when my move popped up.<\/p>\n
Afterwards I received a mailing which listed the names and addresses of my former classmates. What struck me immediately was how many of the people were living in the same place they\u2019d been residing at the last reunion\u2014and the ones before that.<\/p>\n
While staying put in one place is something I never wanted to do, I admit that I felt a bit envious, but I blame that on being in the midst of the epic task of organizing a physical move.<\/p>\n
Even as a kid, I couldn\u2019t imagine settling for a world no bigger than the county where I grew up. I knew there was a big wide world where people talked, lived and looked differently and I wanted to explore.<\/p>\n
For many years, I only knew about faraway places through reading about them. It wasn\u2019t until I discovered self-employment that I figured out a way to see things up close and personal for myself.<\/p>\n
When I began traveling regularly and meeting other would-be entrepreneurs, I realized\u00a0 that the same curiosity that urges us to see the world is very much like the curiosity that urges us to start a business.<\/p>\n
In fact the very unpredictability of self-employment holds special charms for the joyfully jobless. Where will I go today? What next project fascinates me? Where will I meet kindred spirits?<\/p>\n
Unanswered questions, not routine, colors our days.<\/p>\n
None of these things are likely to show up for us, however, unless we engage. Instigate. Explore. Get out and about.<\/p>\n
Years ago, I read an article in Writers Digest<\/em> which warned writers about the danger of hiding away in our offices. In order to be a good writer, the author suggested, we must get out and observe. Listen to other people\u2019s stories, be inspired by a change of scenery.<\/p>\n Yesterday, I put the padlock on the POD sitting in my driveway holding all my household goods, got in the car and drove to my new hometown in southern California. As I set out, I decided to spend the five hour drive focusing on gratitude.<\/p>\n As I headed west, something else happened that I hadn\u2019t anticipated. Suddenly, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, what I wanted my next year to include. Museums and mobility are emerging themes.<\/p>\n Even bigger is a crusade I intend to launch. When the idea hit, it was so obvious that I couldn\u2019t believe I hadn\u2019t taken it up sooner. You\u2019ll be hearing more about that soon. In fact, there will be an official announcement at the Joyfully Jobless Jamboree.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world is like a book,\u201d said St. Augustine all those years ago, \u201cand he who stays home reads only one page.\u201d<\/p>\n Still true.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At the end of July, my high school class had a milestone reunion. I had considered attending, but changed my mind when my move popped up. Afterwards I received a mailing which listed the names and addresses of my former classmates. What struck me immediately was how many of the people were living in the…<\/p>\n