Chasing a Dream - Part I "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference" - Robert Frost

About tiltingwindmills

I worked many years as an Engineer for a high tech Semiconductor company; spending my days in a 3x5 cube, with grey walls and grey floors, endlessly pouring over data. To keep myself sane in that monochromatic prison, I had pinned postcards and pictures of my many travels, to which I would stare longingly at the sandswept ruins of Palmyra Syria, or the crescent of palm fringed beach on Racha Yai Thailand and dream of something better. Although the job came with enough stress to cause ulcers, I persevered, because it also came with a six figure salary, and I had convinced myself that that was why I had gone to school all those years, and that this was what success was. I had achieved the American Dream, a good job and my own house in Suburbia. Unfortunately that wasn’t the same dream I had when I stared at those postcards on my cube wall; what I really wanted was to travel the world and write.

I wish I could say it was as easy as waking up one day and deciding to take the leap of faith, but it wasn’t, otherwise more people would do it. Instead it took me several years to warm up to the idea of leaving it all behind. What would I do? What if I failed? These were the questions that kept me up at night. I told myself over and over that failure was the only way to truly find one's limit. I didn't want to arrive at the end of my life without at least having tried, so I eventually worked up the courage to walk away. That was two weeks ago….

And thus I find myself writing these words at 37000 feet, somewhere between Portland Oregon, and Reykjavik Iceland beginning my journey anew. If you are joining me in spirit on this adventure, I am honored and can only hope you enjoy reading my posts at least half as much as I enjoy writing them.