I was on an upswing, settling into the life of a commuter cyclist-freelance creative. I was happy with my life but sort of feeling the hustle of freelance entrepreneurship; starting to feel like I needed to do something to increase my income potential.

Then a friend offered me a job and off I went, only to to discover that I was best suited in the world of editorial structure and freelance entrepreneurship.

Now I know what it means to go full circle; to leave something for what appears to be greener pastures, only to find that the thing you left behind was the right thing after all. I could tell myself some story of failure but the truth is that I haven’t failed. In fact, this past year has reminded me of a few things I had lost sight of.

1. I really love the beach. For me, the beach isn’t just where the water meets the sand, it’s an entire lifestyle. I completely underestimated how much I would miss it. One of my favorite things to do was hop on my bike and go for a ride along PCH. There was something about having the music pumping in my ears, the salty air and the wind in my face that just felt free. Commuter cycling doesn’t feel quite the same in the desert. And I only made it through half a Summer before I bought a car.

2. Storytelling is my passion. I’m a writer. I write features and personal narratives. I also really love helping other people share their stories. I like to strip off the veneer that we use to protect ourselves and tell the stories in a fearless vulnerable way. It’s not that this is a new discovery but when I took the job, I found myself way out of this element and completely lost. The awesome thing about losing the job was the feeling that I was free to pursue my passion again.

3. I am an athlete. Now that my schedule is flexible again, I’ve been spending a lot of time working out. I run, I spin, I do yoga. This weekend I ran my first 5k and in August I’m doing a triathlon. After years of being told my blood pressure was too high, my blood pressure has returned to what it was when I was swimming competitively. It feels good to be active again. I am both physically and mentally the strongest I’ve been in a long time.

4. Yoga is my happy place. This ties into being an athlete and goes beyond to something that calls to me. I have gotten to the point where even on the days when I’m not “working out” I have to fit in at least a little bit of yoga. It has a centering effect and keeps my body healthy. In fact, I have renewed my commitment to becoming a yoga teacher and have been deepening my engagement with the yoga community.

5. The Universe knows best. I am the type of person who likes to have a plan and follow through on that plan. I don’t like to deviate or be distracted. I make lists and checking things off gives me a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes though, it’s better to just say yes to the Universe even when it leads you somewhere familiar. I’m here in Arizona and not having a “real job” feels like a return to normalcy. I could tell myself that I wasted a year and I made the wrong choice. I don’t believe any of that though. I believe that everything is in divine order and I am at peace with the life I am living. I also know that there are some big adventures yet to come.