First of all... I'm going to dedicate this blog post to the 4 Non Blondes song, "What's Up?". (hence, the blog title) This song has consistently been a guilty pleasure of mine since I first heard it in Junior High. It's great, and the video is a smashing 90's era time-capsule of the styles and sounds of everything that I thought was awesome in junior high. Enjoy!

(You're welcome if you haven't heard it in a while, and my apologies if it gets stuck in your head for the next 3 days.)

"25 years and my life is still, tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope, for a destination"

Well, I'm not 25...

I often think about what Junior-High-Lisa would think if she saw me now. Not that my life is perfect, (far from it) but life is pretty darn delightful. I read something many years ago that really changed the way I live each day, and it was essentially this:

Life is basically 90% good, and 10% bad. The key to a happy life is to focus on the 90% that is good. The problem is that most people can’t turn their attention away from that rotten 10% and it proceeds to rob them of any happiness they might otherwise be able to experience right now.

(paraphrasing because I can’t actually find the quote)

So overall, life is good!

But, for a short moment… let me share with you the 10% of my life that isn’t great.

Just in case anyone out there actually reads my blog posts (Hi mom!) and is wondering what has happened since I last wrote, here is the “Reader's Digest Version”:

That job didn’t work out.

The company had me working on their code, making some small changes and additions to their website, but after far too long without any helpful feedback, or mentorship, and no paycheck… I decided to step away. So, I am basically right back where I was before.

That is my 10%.

Now don’t get me wrong, that 10% can feel all-encompassing at times, but I have found a way to make a little cash doing some online testing of prototype software, and I have a part-time cleaning job that I really enjoy. (I know, I know... this is a run-on sentence)

Lets now talk about the 90% that is AWESOME!

• I have run two half marathons recently with my favorite person, and we have one more race coming up soon. (Let me just say, having someone to run with is the best!)
• Although there are always fires in California, it hasn’t seemed as bad as last year!
• I am literally sitting in the redwoods right now.
• I have family and friends that care about me.
• I get to cook everyday. (I know for some people that isn’t part of their 90%, but I love cooking!)
• I get to bike, hike, walk, jog and hangout with my favorite person all the time.
• I am able to make some money. :) Not a lot, but that has also given me the chance to fine-tune my frugality skills!
• I just renewed my passport, which means my travel daydreaming is back in full swing.
• I get to live in a beautiful city!
• Since getting the Covid vaccine, life has become a little bit more relaxed. I am still cautious, of course, and happily follow all local/state and CDC guidelines, but it's been so nice to have the occasional chat with a neighbor on the sidewalk and be able to see their smile.
• My college friend is getting married soon and I get to be one of her bridesmaids, and I LOVE an excuse to wear a pretty dress!
• This is literally where we jogged this morning!
• And the list can go on, and on!

It’s been a while now since I decided to take a terrifying leap of faith and reroute my life. When I left my job in Kansas to move back to California, I sent out an email to my friends/coworkers to say goodbye. In that email I wrote the following line:

“My hope for the future is to find a place where I fit perfectly, and if I can’t find it, I will create it!”

So, I am about to pull out my hammer & chisel to start creating the place where I fit perfectly. This will not be a fast process, but I am enthusiastic about pursuing something that I know will bring incredible happiness to myself and hopefully to others as well. Wish me luck!

Cover Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash