I spent one quarter at Pacifica Graduate Institute instead of the intended five years. I had already spent 20 plus years as a student. It was something I knew how to do well. To be honest, being a traditional student doesn’t require a ton of creativity. With diligence, you can do quite good in school. I liked that feeling. Knowing I could succeed. But very quickly in that first quarter, I knew I didn’t want to be there.

Last Friday, I woke up and wanted to spend my morning at the complex pool. I picked a podcast, brewed some coffee, packed blueberries and a sandwich, and made my way over.

I was having a conversation with my friend Holly. She said something to me that I needed to hear. Maybe you need to hear it too: “Ability does not equal obligation. You’re capable of achieving anything, but that doesn’t mean you have to.”