Process of Elimination

We all grow up believing the "big lie", the one that my dad would tell me over the phone constantly, the same one your parents told you...that we can be anything. For me, being anything started with wanting to be a cowgirl, ride alone across the US, jumping fences and doing odd jobs along the way. (Already having been affected by my dad's lifestyle obviously.) Buuuuutttt as most little girls dreams of being ballerinas or actresses, this obviously just wasn't going to happen. I remember the day when I finally found the flaw that would stomp out any hope...people don't want you just roaming around on their property. Well shoot. This was followed by a great series of dreams and to my parents dismay, majors, of being an English teacher, being a Vet, being an activist, and finally just BE SOMETHING. I've wanted to be all of these things and so many more, how can you pick just one? I want to be cowgirl-rockstar-fightagainstthecrimesofhumanity-skibum-Jes, who also has time to be an avid camper, living in Alaska who enjoys long walks on the beach and Sunday Bloody Marys. Yesterday, on the inside of a bottle of tea I found the perfect quote for this.

"Finding myself through process of elimination." ~Jonathan Stefiuk

Although the idea of being the "big lie" is great and that each and every one of those things would be fulfilling to me, after living in a place where a degree probably got you a job in a kitchen, a pass job on the mountain and a hole in the wall apartment...all I think I really want to be is happy. Everyday walking through town I see young families riding their bikes, people relaxing on park benches, people laughing over an afternoon beer at The Brick. They are all from different places and have a thousand different hobbies, but they are all for this unified sense of just being happy. It's amazing how the people that surround you in a place can either make or break it, but here the town is made up of a million little pieces of all of these people, all the skibum-ballerina-actresses, rancher-hockeyplayer-lawyers, astronaut-businessowner-firefighters, we are all of those things all the time. With all of those pieces that make up each of us how could you not find your place and just be happy. Those are the things that waiting in traffic make you forget about yourself everyday. Is it worth it to pick just one thing if it means forgetting the rest? What would your "big lie" be?

Check out Sarah Kay's (who I love!) version:

http://www.justmywriting.com/tag/sarah-kay-lyrics