revolutionary in training

Conventional wisdom tells us to always have a back up plan when making decisions. A good friend asked me what mine was a few months ago after I decided to get a job in TV here in the U.S. and, more specifically, to work for Harpo Studios.

“Let’s say Oprah doesn’t call and nothing else opens up. What’s your Plan B?“, he asked.

A thought I clearly didn’t want to focus on, I responded, “I suppose moving to England.” All the while dreading a life without the daily sunshine and beaches my California adventures have afforded me.

England because I’m Canadian and can work there without restrictions, unlike in the States. Also, because I’ve spent summers there when my older sister used to live near London. And, of course, for the unbeatable culture.

But really my attention was on the vision I had of working in an organization, like Oprah’s, where I could fulfill my personal calling of inspiring people to live their best life. Oprah is based in America and I wanted to reach out to the same market, and then there’s the fact that most TV shows are made in L.A., land of sun and beaches (yes, it’s a theme).

I had my mission, I had my vision and was committed to doing everything I could to achieve it, despite the great obstacle of needing work sponsorship to stay in the great U.S. of A. I created a website to serve as a platform for my passions and calling, volunteered as an intern at a local TV station, made an application video to set myself apart from the crowd, and even started hosting my own live talk show. I also wrote a great cover letter (thanks Rai) and applied for hundreds of jobs, networked with people in the industry, had a few interviews… and nothing.

July loomed around the corner: the deadline I’d set earlier this year to find a job in the States or make a new direction. Plan B all of a sudden was knocking on my door. At first I kind of laughed it off, nervously of course, but soon it became apparent that my backup plan needed to be put into action. Furthermore, Plan B and all that London offers, quickly became a very appealing and, dare I say, exciting option. The opportunity to live, work, and travel in an international setting with organizations and media working hands on in the global marketplace seemed too good to pass up.

Was my American dream over before it even began?

Literally as I write this I’m sitting on a bench overlooking the lush green of Golden Gate Park, a sandy white(ish) beach, and the beautiful blue Pacific ocean on yet another gorgeous sunny day. Could I really give all this up to move to damp, foggy London? What I’ve realized over the past few weeks is that what matters most to me now is living the life I’m called to, not adhering to a vision I have of what my dreams look like.

Too many people get trapped by their idea of what path their dreams should follow, and when things don’t go according to plan they stagnate and lose the very dream they were trying to hold on to. We have to keep our eyes on our ultimate calling which gives birth to our dreams, and hold on only tight enough to reach the dreams we can and loose enough to allow new ones to take root in our heart.

I don’t have it all figured out. There’s not job lined up in London, but I do have a place to stay until I find work, and a few friends I know who live there. So I go forth with open hands, an open heart, and an open mind… and a plane ticket for the beginning of September. I’ve sold my belongings but I’ve not sold out. I’m still following my dreams one step at a time, ready for a new adventure in London, whatever that may be. And I know that just like Aslan in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Plan B may not be safe, but it is good. It’s always good to follow your dreams.