I've made some significant decisions and changes in my life in the last year, that's for sure. Even in the last month. It's been a whirlwind, but it finally led me to the perfect place for me to accomplish the next chapter in my life goals - and that place is HOME, ironically enough. Who woulda thought? Certainly not me. The universe works in mysterious ways.
After Thailand, I went back to Oregon and was preparing to teach english in South Korea after realizing I didn't want to struggle to work in Thailand and that it wasn't perhaps the greatest match. It's easy to romanticize living and working in Thailand. I wanted a steady income, and not to struggle financially, but to continue being of service. And I wanted to travel more, which teaching english would easily allow one to do.
Then I answered a call for work in southern Indiana, working with an old aquaintance, teaching raw food prep weekends at a center in the country, and decided to give the raw food health world ONE last whirl. It was a tough call, but I'm told that's where I belong and that's where my strengths are - and I do know my field well - but I have found it to be quite a toxic industry, overall. It was unexpected, and I took that as a sign.
In Indiana I learned some, taught some, and like most other life experiences, I found out what I was REALLY there for: to value my true potential. All along I've been running myself ragged, stressing out, and for people that ultimately stab you in the back or drop you when they have used what they want from you, it seems. And here I've made great strides, but I jumped in full-throttle (very "Erica-esque") and my own healing went on the backburner. It's been an eye-opening, delightful, and at times very painful journey - one that I wouldn't trade for the world. But it was time to take a step back and really examine what I was doing, if it was working for me, and if my needs were being met. It was important for me to leave my position in Indiana on good terms, and I did. But it was just as important for me to stand up for myself when the time came, and I did that too!
I firmly believe we are always right where we are supposed to be, and that we are always surrounded by the perfect people to teach us what we need to learn (not necessarily what we always want to learn, mind you!) Thanks to some wonderful, amazing people and some shocking twists and turns, I have surprisingly ended up right back in Chicago, my HOME, and home of the blues --- my favorite live music scene, hands down.
I was unemployed for all of 12 hours or so - the number one raw vegan restaurant in Chicagoland had an opening for a full-time raw chef (isn't the universe amazing?) so I started work immediately. It's an amazing, positive environment where I love going to work every day. I love how physical it is, and just focusing on the food and not the cancer, the stress of keeping a fledgling business afloat, etc. It's a well-organized, thriving vessel, and I'm happy to be on board! That said, the restaurant industry will definitely keep you VERY busy; it's so great to have so much to do! And it's FUN. And the food is FABULOUS.
I definitely have learned a lot, and consider myself a lot wiser. In the last month alone I have roadtripped for two weeks, reconnecting with family and relatives, which reminded me of who I am and where I come from. I voluntarily left my position, in THIS economy, to stand up for myself and what I will and will not allow in my life. I was blessed to finally meet in person my friends Belinda and Julius, in Decatur, Georgia, and to be treated with some of the most outstanding love and respect I have ever felt (which is huge), and to visit the King Center, a tribute to my favorite person in history. I had a job open up for me immediately right in my field, a job of integrity that is a lot of fun, that will teach me the next phase of skills for whatever I'm meant to be doing, plus allow me to share mine. As well, it will feed me optimally. I am also going to be living downtown Chicago in an environment that is ideal in how conducive it is to me reaching my goals, physically and mentally. And I will be in a loving, positive environment in a totally kickass neighborhood in Chicago, living with one of the coolest, most brilliant (and hilarious) chicks I have ever had the honor of knowing. AND I can get the healthcare I truly need right now: chinese medicine. From one of the top professionals in the country. I feel very blessed right now, and absolutely love my life! And I'm always taken care of, I realize. Why do I stress?
I haven't been blogging because life has still felt unsettled, but I also am not happy with blogger, LOL (if the "truth be told"). I have a new website in the works, one that will be employed through wordpress, which is the proper site to use for what I am setting out to do. So, I will be blogging again, but for right now my goals are to successfully move downtown in a month after getting all my ducks in a row, and to build my site correctly and thoroughly. That means not rushing it. I promise you it'll be worth it! I'll also be doing video updates, so stay tuned. I'm really excited about this, it feels "right". I'm just ironing out the details and not rushing myself at this time.
Thank you all for your patience! Here's a few pictures from the last couple of months . . . And sorry my update is so boring, I could have written ten novels on the introspection I've done and the realizations of 2009 thus far, but I chose to spare you and just give a profile of what I'm up to and where I'm at.......
This is me with two of my dearest friends in the country. I miss them and their parents, but we are friends for life, so it's all good! Nice to have my country retreat, especially so I can keep an eye on all the sunflowers I planted!
This is me on the back of my dear friend BJ's bike about a month ago outside of Kingston Mines, before taking off for breakfast. He is the head of security, and one of my guardian angels, I swear! His birthday is the same as MLK, Jr's, in fact!
This is me in Chicago with my dear "sister" Jules, who stayed with us for a couple of months in Indiana. I met some fabulous friends there and wouldn't trade it for the world! I had to take her and Audra to Chicago for the weekend to cut loose - we had a blast! 
XO!
