If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that geography plays a very important role in my happiness. I’ve lived in a lot of different places, and WHERE I live has a bigger impact on how I feel than just about anything else. I have always “liked” where I lived, but boy does the lack of sun and warmth affect my mood! I grew up in Kentucky, and remember lots of snow, gray and rain. I remember not wanting to go outside because it was just too cold. Then we moved to South Carolina, which was warmer, but still a lot of gray in the winter. I was depressed a lot, even as a kid. Then adulthood took me to Tennessee, Atlanta, and even some time in Florida. The brief stint in Florida helped me realize the importance of geography in my life! Seeing and being around the ocean did more for my mood and outlook than anything! I actually felt happy near the sea; and “happy” had been an elusive feeling for me for most of my life.
I coached executives for most of my adult career, and found myself urging these highly successful executives to follow their passion, and to do what made them happy. Then one day I looked in the mirror and realized I really needed to take my own advice. The sea, the sand, the sun, and being warm made ME happy! So off I went in my search for the right geography. Florida? Not quite right – still too cold in the winter and the “vibe” didn’t suit me. Cayman Islands? Lovely, but too flat, and no chance of me being able to work there. Bahamas? Chilly in the winter, and food challenges. I like to eat fresh! Belize, Panama, Costa Rica?? LOVELY places, but I just didn’t feel comfortable there. St Thomas? Way too crowded and touristy. St John? Gorgeous, but too expensive. St Croix? Ahhhhhh….Just right!!!! This is THE geography for ME!!! Stay tuned for more geography lessons…..as we fine-tune!!! And ask yourself, how important is geography in YOUR life? If you’ve never traveled, you might not even know! Time to find out?? If you have, this is a question worth exploring!
