Walking Left

Since I graduated from college, I’ve been eagerly waiting for my life to start.

I had this supposed inauguration marked by certain indicators. I would secure a great job. I would save loads of money and purchase loads of great things. I would help people. I would do great things.

I would also travel the world, a desire so strong anyone associating closely with me knew I was almost solely judging my success off of this fulfillment... or the lack thereof.

Finally in the month of January, I believe I spent a total of 6 nights in my apartment in the state where I reside. At one point around the middle of the month, our plane touched down for a layover and already having had five cities under my belt, I genuinely looked to the man beside me and queried, “what city are we in right now?”

A week later, I awoke in London.

One evening my travel companion and I were waiting for our play to start in southwest London. We stood in front of the Apollo Victoria Theater trying to decide where to kill time before the show.

Knowing Buckingham Palace was about a mile away, I suggested the quick journey up the road. We walked it and upon cresting the hill, I was immediately seized with the sight before me.

The night was purple black. The palace was illuminated with bright white flood lights highlighting its majesty. The London Eye was glowing indigo on the horizon off the Thames. I loved it.

I was so much reminded how I love looking at the DC monuments much better at night, when the tourists have left and the buildings are immaculately regal.

On that semi-foggy evening in front of Buckingham Palace, a question crept into my mind. “Elizabeth, what do you believe to be your Personal Legend?” A humid wakeup call smacking me in the face.

I once read a story of a shepherd boy living a common life who had a dream leading him on a journey to fulfill his Personal Legend.

Crucial to the novel was this idea of a Personal Legend. The boy learned of one's Personal Legend from a King who clarified to him "It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.” (The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho)

Spoiler. One of the enlightening beauties of the story exists in the irony of the shepherd boy finding his treasure in the place he commenced his journey.

By the end of London, I was ready to go home. My Personal Legend had less to do with “the where” as I had originally believed and a whole lot more to do with “the what.”

My plane left Heathrow and upon stepping foot in the Atlanta airport, I was heard to exclaim quite dramatically “God Bless America” as the surrounding passengers chuckled.

I spent all of January gone and have spent all of February making up for it… in a state I have long since had little desire to be in.

I feel once more a robust drive I have felt many times in the past. A drive which has many times directed me to stuffing my vehicle and moving. Each era guided me to trivial fulfillment.

I look forward to more travel. Traveling is enlightening. Inevitably, messing with the Where will help you to decipher the What.

However, it’s not the Where I’m trying to seize. Even now, it is the What.