Sometimes it's just obvious why certain people touch your heart. A former student I know is spending much of this year pursuing personal projects and traveling before starting a new job at the beginning of 2011.
This week she's returning to San Francisco to celebrate her birthday, and here's what she wrote in her invitation:
Instead of receiving birthday presents, I would love to receive your wisdom in the form of answers to two questions:
"If I had three months of freedom, I would. . ." and
"When you finally move to San Francisco, make sure to. . ."
She's going to cover the walls of the party site in paper and have people write (graffiti?) their responses during the party. Wow--what a beautiful idea.
My own responses to those questions?
If I had three months of freedom...I would find a cottage up in the hills of Inverness with a quiet garden and a view of Tomales Bay. I'd spend each morning distilling what I've written here over the years into a narrative about coaching and change and growth; I'd spend each afternoon hiking the trails of Point Reyes; and I'd spend each evening cooking with Amy and looking up at the stars.
And when you finally move to San Francisco, spend as much time as you can in all the hidden wild corners of the city: Land's End, the Presidio, Tank Hill, Grand View Park, Golden Gates Heights Park, Fort Funston, the community garden at Fort Mason, the back side of Twin Peaks, Glen Canyon and the top of Strawberry Hill in the middle of Stow Lake. These places (and more like them) touch my own heart so deeply and are ultimately what make me most happy to live here.
Happy Birthday!
