May 26, 2016

A Leap of Faith


Following your dreams can be overwhelming and frightening but living the life you dream about makes it all worth it. Up until 6 years ago I was living in the suburbs feeling lost and disconnected, a fish out of water. I had a couple of friends in the neighborhood (who remain very special to me) but I didn't feel like I was where I belonged.  It was a comfortable life to be sure, just not the one I was supposed to be living. At first I didn't really know what I wanted. I just knew I wanted something else. If I sound like I wasn't grateful for what I had, I truly was. It wasn't that it wasn't a good life, it was just not the right one for me. I felt a yearning and restlessness that was impossible to ignore, growing stronger as time passed. After a lot of soul searching we took a leap of faith and changed everything. I'd say most people in our lives thought we were crazy. Maybe we agreed with them a little. I would also say that most people in our lives, now couldn't imagine us anywhere else.


Life in the Village is so very good. We finally have roots, a place to call home. We are just as in love with it now as we were in the beginning, maybe more so. We can sit outside on our porches and hear the little league announcers calling the games in the park, the high school marching band practicing and occasionally music from celebrations on Main Street. Neighbors stop by for a glass of wine or invite themselves over for tea on the porch. Our friends think nothing of knocking on the door unannounced or popping in the back gate. That sort of thing used to unnerve me in my old life but is now just expected. We walk to dinner on Main Street, to the Farmers Market, to yoga, to the library, to shops and antique stores, to buy a bottle of wine at the winery or steaks to grill that night from the butcher. We borrow tools from our neighbors, help carry heavy things and get advice on renovation projects. As a Villager, I will happily bring you freshly baked cookies or bread, bring you a dinner when you are in need, watch your little ones in an emergency, invite your kids over to give you a break and in turn you help me with my garden, shovel my walk in the winter, share vegetables out of your garden, take care of my pets when I'm out of town or even offer to sleep on my sofa when my husband is out of town and something has happened to make me feel nervous about being home alone.


This is a community. This is our community, our people. This is home. This is the kind of place you don't ever want to leave. I have lived in more places than you can imagine and I have never experienced anything like it. I truly thought it didn't exist in real life. I have always been drawn to books about quirky people living in small towns.  I often feel like I moved right into the setting of one of those novels. From the man who power walks while smoking his cigars and the one who takes his morning stroll with his mug of coffee to the chickens randomly walking down the street behind our house and the deer bounding down the street in front of the library. This magical wonderland is my home. I repeat that to myself in awe more often than you can imagine and the thought is always followed by the question in my mind...but what if we hadn't been brave and made that leap of faith? It honestly brings tears to my eyes to imagine living any other life than the one I am living right now. Sometimes a leap of faith is the only choice you have.

20 comments:

  1. I so understand those kind of tears. And I so love that you were brave and listened to the calling of your heart. You are exactly where you are meant to be and the journey leading you here was meant to be too. You have created such a loving, beautiful, and inviting home for your family and the Village is so blessed to have your sweet spirit there. I am just so happy for you dear Jen. Love to you always.

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    1. My dearest Kim, you and I alone know what an important role you played in where and WHO I am today. I am forever grateful for your friendship, guidance and love.

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  2. Dearest Jen, your Village sounds lovely and your life within it wonderful, something I am still very much longing for. Feeling content in your souroundings makes such a difference.
    Anna xx

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  3. I am so in love with your blog and your cottage. I get excited every time I see that there is a new post. You encourage me in decorating my cottage and in perhaps getting my blog off the ground.

    Robin ourlintoncottage.blogspot.com

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  4. You've described a life I dream for, Jen. I'm in a daze (but yes, I know, no one has a perfect life but your are close!)

    I hope when my guy retires in the next 2- 2 1/2 years that we can spend 5 months at the lake and winters in Chicago. The best of both worlds.

    Thank your for your comment on my blog today---you always touch my heart.

    Jane

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  5. Isn't it the most wonderful feeling, to know you are exactly where your heart and soul tells you is the perfect place for you? We are so blessed!

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  6. I can so relate to this post, Jen. We took a leap of faith in November when we moved to a new county. We love it here. It is small town living at its finest. I'm so very happy that you've found your dream home!! Your porch is so wonderful, by the way!! :) Have a beautiful and safe weekend. xx

    ~ Wendy

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  7. "Sometimes a leap of faith is the only option you have" ~ Perfect advice that many more of us should heed. I've been reading since you were in the suburbs and have watched this journey evolve and it's clear that this is THE place you were meant to be. Always look forward to your posts.

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  8. I remember when you were house hunting and am so happy you found "home".

    Ours wasn't a leap of faith, but in 1997 we moved 1 mile from a 1950's neighbor hood to the beach and found a similar situation as yours. We still pinch ourselves that this is our life.

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  9. Thanks for the inspiration- living a life of gratitude is truly priceless and having a heart at peace-again, you cannot measure its worth! I LOVE your porch wall plates-may I ask how you attached them that the wind hasn't blown them off? Thanks :)

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    1. Becky,

      I used a combination of the plate hangers- the kind that come over the top and bottom and the adhesive type that you can't see. We get a good breeze out there but have never had a problem.

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  10. OH- I so wish my daughter could have found a house there. She is one town away but it is a different world. I could live where you do in a heartbeat, too. However, that being said- I am called to the ocean-to be near it and feel the sand and hear the waves rushing the shore. As soon as hubby is well that is where we are headed -at least for part of the year.
    God bless you, Jen. I am SO glad you took that leap of faith and went where your heart told you to go. xo Diana

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  11. How wonderful that you have found your place. So happy you followed your heart.

    Judy

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  12. Beautiful post, I'm so glad you feel right and happy where you are now and were brave enough to make the move. It all sounds wonderful!!!
    We too made the move from town suburbs to country lane in the Uk and have never looked back. Not the community that you have, it is very quiet here, but still a peaceful and wonderful place to be with a few good neighbours and friends.
    Enjoy and be thankful!!!
    Gill xx

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  13. So happy you all found just where you were meant to be! Sounds so lovely there!

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  14. I love that you share your beautiful life here with us…but even more, I love that you are LIVING a life that you dreamed of for so long. I love hearing about this special place…and I think of it often, as we near the end of Brent's AF years and wonder what the future will hold for us. A life in a village sounds so up our alley. Thanks for the encouragement to be brave! Also. I just love your door. It makes me so very happy to see!

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  15. Oh my goodness, I would love to know where your village is...that sounds like just what we are looking to retire in!

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  16. Hi there, this is such a beautiful post. I totally agree a leap of faith is all that we need sometimes. Wish you all the best.

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