chaos brings enlightenment

i finally got a new job. but because i am back to doing
my "life's work" (as my old friend would call it), I don't
really consider it to be a "job".

thankfully, i am back in the world of youth development.
this time, i am helping to open and manage an amazing, amazing
youth community center in the heart of one of the most culturally
rich but underresourced neighborhoods in the bay. the center has been in the planning and construction stages for the last 4 years, which involved
one of the most grasroots, community/youth-centered approaches to
development. i'll bet that going through that process beats
ANY formal Masters degree program anywhere. i am in awe.

the woman who was the project lead is my frickin' idol.
i can't even begin to describe how awesome she is for
working the system and galvanizing people to invest
sweat equity and close to $20,000,000 to build this place.
Needless to say, there is so much i (all of us) have to learn from her.

I love working with my new teammates. i can't tell you
how refreshing it is to be back in a space where my values
are aligned with the people around me AND where I am
inspired by the experiences and levels of commitment and passion
of my team. I believe that this part of my experience is what
has made the most difference. My mental and physical state
has literally taken a 180 degree turn for the better.
finally, i can breath, see clearly and move forward.

i also am in awe of the new community i will be working in.
i'm glad to finally be out of the city where i have invested myself
for almost 10 years. i do not regret the experience, but
i have always wanted to invest in the east bay where i grew up.
besides, the city is very saturated with services (which is a great thing),
but this time around i wanted to invest in and better understand
communities on my side of the bay.

this new community is literally like another country to me.
they have their own lingo, their own culture, their own distinct history.
it's almost like moving to new york, which is what i've been wanting to do for a new experience, but i don't actually have to move.
when i think about this community, it reminds me of the Gallapagos Islands -
the island that Charles Darwin refers to in his theory of evolution.
Somehow this community mimicks this island in the way it has evolved
into a very distinct place with a rich history. i sometimes can't believe
that it is part of the bay area. With the exception of San francisco &
Berkeley, the surrounding cities pale in comparison to this community.
I can't tell you how excited i am to immerse myself in it and learn more.

I reflect a lot on my experience in my last job and i often think that i had the type of experience that i did because it was preparing me for this new one. and i've also realized that the often dreadful experience i had at my last job for the 1 year, 8 months and 4 days that i was there was meant to teach me something very important:

It taught me that my values & passions will always, ALWAYS determine what makes me happy and that i need to continue on this path, this search for truth, to live out my full potential.

I believe that i have been given another chance to do this in this new community. And while i feel this enormous burden of responsibility to make good with what the people before me built, i sense that my direction in life/perspective/values are somehow right again.