The Game of Life

It was late October when I finally sold my apartment after having it on and off the market for several years. It was the answer prayer of freedom I was waiting for the history of My “ Old Life” will no longer follow me into my new chapter. I drove out of the parking lot and never looked back. I breathed a sign of relief, ready for a new beginning. My car was packed solid with clothes, hangers, and boxes of God knows what. My car looked like Lamont’s car in the hit 70’s sitcom Son Sanford and Son.

In retrospect, I was unaware on that faithful day, that the next journey was much bigger than the apartment sale. It was more of an “Inside job” of self-exploration that I’m now only beginning to scratch the surface with. I have found that we all have different degrees of stories we tell ourselves that keep us safe. For me, my excuse was that "my apartment wouldn't sell, so I can’t move on. "It’s what kept me hostage from growing and gave me a false sense of safety.

My rose-colored glasses started to melt as life, and fear of the future started to seep in. Although I didn't know it yet, the universe had other plans for me. As the months unfolded, the beginning of my journey was nothing, but easy. They say, things happen for a reason, and we do outgrow people, and circumstances. The beauty of life is, that if you make a wrong turn, your internal GPS will get you back on the highway of life. That is, If we are ready to listen.

What I now call my “3 month” Retreat” was an amazing experience in that I was very fortunate to have a great support system of friends. After many deep conversations and much contemplation, I decided to move back to New York, where I felt I had unfinished business. I learned that sometimes the cliché line “ The grass isn’t always greener” is true. Happiness can be found anywhere, but requires work. Although it was right to move on from my old apartment, but a small shift in perspective is what was needed all along.

Moving back gave me a new perspective and a new and improved outlook. With no concrete job lined up, I still felt a sense of peace to move forward anyway. It turns out less than a week back, I accepted a job and housing in Manhattan followed.

When I was a child, I watched the adults get together and play the Milton Bradley popular board game called, The Game of Life. I always wanted to play mainly, because I liked the colorful plastic cars, and of course the play money. I never understood the symbolism that represents a person's travel, and journey throughout life, jobs, and relationships etc.

As an adult, that board game is very poignant, and simulates life in so many ways. The truth is, it’s just a game, but we are in charge of our own choices and will go through many metamorphoses throughout life, just like The Game of Life…