Offering belonging and finding acceptance.
Choice of perspective. That's what I'm thinking about today.
When I put my truck in park, I was already running through my next three moves in my head. Get out, walk around to the passenger side, open the door. Then I'd grab my backpack first, the canvas bag with the stack of books in it second. "This" I thought to myself, "this is the optimal order of operations—I'll definitely be able to hold my coffee AND open the front door this way."
I'll never know. From somewhere behind me and to the left, an inquisitive voice tossed a string of words my way. I hadn't realized they were meant for me, or that I was supposed to do something with them. So instead of picking up my coffee, I set down my bag of books, turned and, in as eloquent a voice as I could muster, haphazardly lobbed a simple "ummm... huh?" toward a man and his dog.
"Did you just move into the white house across the street?" he repeated.
In his hand, he'd held a thermos. The other he'd used to point up the driveway behind me. I told him that, yes, I did just move in. He was about my height, wore a black five-panel hat with a snowboard brand's logo on it and a red puffy jacket with a NOLS logo on the breast. 10 years ago, that was basically my daily uniform when I lived in Wyoming... and worked for NOLS.
While we talked, his dog dropped a frisbee at my feet and threw his body up against my legs, very much like how Ava does. In the short time since moving to this neighborhood, he's one of many who've gone out of their way to come say hi and introduce themselves. I used to be like that—the me who worked for NOLS wouldn't have had to think about saying hi at all, it'd have just happened. Maybe if I hadn't been so focused on rushing inside with my coffee, I could've been the one to initiate an introduction.
Now, even though it's only a few towns over, this is just such a different vibe from where I'd been. It's exactly why I chose to move here; to the arts district that offered belonging before my address proved I could ask for it. Maybe it's just a mindset thing. Maybe offering belonging to others seems like no big deal.
But that's a mindset I want.
And I'll choose it time and again until it fits without thinking, like it used to.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
78/365
When's the last time you realized you'd changed? What prompted it?
onward.
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