Welcome
Yes, I know, you've missed me. I'm sorry for the delay here but, you know how the old saying goes, better late then never?
Funny story about this before I get into my excuses, the other day I was talking to my soon to be father in law about something that I can't remember, something that I hadn't done. I said to him "Mejor tarde que nunca" which is probably not correct Spanish grammar, but I was trying to say better late then never.
He pointed out that people only say that once they actually do the thing, with a lighthearted whit of course, chalk it up to a bonehead son in law moment.
Nevertheless, I know it's been some time, and hopefully you're life has changed for the better since you've last received an email for me, or at the very least stayed the same.
The Delta
Not the airlines, which I'm not drinking the kool aid on, despite the heard of sheep who swear by it. No, I'm referencing a couple of things that have changed in my life.
I've left the metro, jamon, hills, siestas, comida and chic dressed people of Madrid behind and traded it in for... drum roll please... Raleigh, North Carolina! I finished strong in Madrid with a master's degree and an opportunity to speak at graduation in front of my fiance brother, sister in law and parents and some of my newly found friends out there. It was one of my proudest moments. More to come on that later on in another entry.
I've started a new job, been doing my best to meet people, playing a lot of golf and training for a triathlon down here, not in that particular order.
It's been challenging
Highs and lows, ebs and flows for sure, but we keep moving forward. Sometimes it feels like I'm further from home here than I did in Madrid, but obviously that's because Paula and I are unfortunately at the will of the USCIS processing times, not to be redundant, but "more to come on that in another entry."
And there are quite a few reasons for that strong statement, but I most likely attribute it to not having an official cohort. In college, you have your freshman class, everybody who you can assimilate to. In Madrid it was the same, people who are from all over trying to figure it out the same as you, immediately you have something to bond over. Here, it's a little tricky to meet people who have established themselves here over the last couple of years.
They have their spots, their groups. And with that you're starting a new job and learning more than you think you are. You're clicking on the maps every time you get in the car, trying to find your way at a new company in a new city.
You're trying to find things in common, fortunately I rely on golf. But as I said, it's highs and lows, not one without the other.
I've got a road bike down here and hitting 25+ mph through the neuse river trail for hours on end on a Saturday morning is a newfound rush of endorphins. Little wins in the grocery store about making friends. Victories at work when you're establishing credibility. A good marketplace find for your new apartment, new coffee shops, parks, trips to the outerbanks.
I had a friend tell me
Particularly in one of those challenging points I had a good friend of mine give me some advice; in the military when somebody starts a new role, they're not allowed to make any big decisions for the first 90 days.
No firing, hiring, relocation, fight or flight, just take inventory of your surroundings and settle in. And that's been super helpful, coming up on the 90 day mark here I'm starting to settle in and that feels like progress.
I'm meeting people, finding a routine with a balance of exploration, probably a little too much comfort but give working on giving myself a little grace!
Final note
I've got two favorite movies: Good Will Hunting and Catch Me if You Can.
I've been listening to Catch me if you can on audible and it's such a fantastic story of a young con man. The main character, Frank Abignale, eludes the FBI all over the world for years on end, conducting an absolute masterclass in my favorite game of cat and mouse with high stakes and beautiful showmanship.
It baffles me that at such a young age, he was so willing to take such risk and lay it all on the line, push all his chips to the center, and tell the story.
Bonus thoughts
There's a lot of poison out there online these days, it's very easy to get trapped in the loop of your twenties. Do this, don't do that, but don't do too much. Save, spend, FIRE, lift, run, hybrid athlete, buy a house, flip a house, too much protein, creatine, watches, AI, more AI, travel, stay lowkey, nice cars, internet money, corporate grind, start a business, and a million other fucking iterations of that stuff.
Just keep moving forward. Sometimes 2 steps forward one step back, but if you keep moving forward, you'll go up and to the right. Take stock of your wins, give yourself grace. Keep pursuing your potential, but understand you'll never reach 100% of it. It is the pursuit of it where you'll find growth. Thanks for reading, feels good to be back!
