I'm Going to See America

On Letting Go of the Familiar in Search of the Unknown

“You must set your sights upon the heights
Don't be a mediocrity
Don't just wait then trust to fate
And say, "That's how it's meant to be"

It's up to you how far you go
If you don't try, you'll never know
And so my lad as I've explained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained”

Recognize this song?

I will give you two hints:

1) Sword

2) Stone

Okay okay, fine. Give up?

It’s from Disney’s Sword and the Stone, of course!

After transforming himself and the orphaned Arthur into a fish, Merlin sings this life-lesson-packed song to the rhythm of their swimming.

This movie is full-up in the life lessons department. Truth be told, I’ve been waiting all my life to leverage Sword in the Stone as a frame of reference for my life decisions and here’s my chance:

We’ve decided to set our sights upon new heights and…

sell our home and tour America for the next year.

And check out our sweet *new* digs.

We got a smokin’ deal on it:

Just kidding!

I’m not THAT hip.

Nuh-uh. No wheels or vans or RVs for me. Instead, we will be staying in pooch-friendly Airbnbs with fenced in yards, space for us to work, and no need to empty our shitters into the storm drains.

As many of you know who’ve been in my orbit for a while, I blew my life up last June. Quitting my job and going out on my own to launch Cupalo. Forgoing a steady paycheck and the comfort of “that’s not my problem” - because, everything is now my problem.

And, surprisingly, so far. So good.

So, it got me thinking.

What else is possible? What else in my life doesn’t quite fit?

Wellllllllll

I can’t even count how many times I’ve walked my neighborhood or looked out the upstairs windows and thought “I don’t belong here.” It’s not that I’m ungrateful for the house we have or the place we live. No. In fact, I’m terribly grateful to have a roof over my head, a safe neighborhood, and the fun “extras” of a little in-ground pool and an acre+ for the dogs to roam. We got so incredibly lucky finding this house in 2020 I can’t even stand it.

And, you have my permission to call me crazy, but I dreamed of this place. Way before I saw it. I pictured our cars in the driveway. The pool. The feeling it had.

When we saw it we both just knew it was “the one.”

These past 4 years, we’ve cared for and made it our own. We poured innumerable hours and a hefty amount of Ben Franks (more like Grover Clevelands) into it and tada! It became ours.

Then, something changed.

For me it was about 2 years ago.

In the warm months, I’d spend 4+ hours on a Saturday laboring away on the outdoor chores — mowing, weed-wacking, cleaning the pool, plucking weeds, watering the plants, power-washing the deck etc. In the fall, 3+ hours blowing leaves. In the winter, stacking wood and shoveling snow and don’t even get me started on losing power. And, in all seasons and almost every day, scrub-a-dub dubbing the inside.

Hours and hours of labor. Just to keep the house looking like a well-made bed.

Truth be told, we didn’t find much gratification in the process. Not like our neighbors who test the PH balance of their soil to ensure golf-course quality grass — I’m not kidding. That shit is green enough to eat off of. Clean enough to eat off of? Probably both.

Peter and I both struggled to admit to ourselves and to each other that we wanted something else.

Both feeling some variation of “What the hell is wrong with me. Shouldn’t I like watering the hydrangeas?!? Shouldn’t I want golf-course quality grass!?!?”

Letting go of the “I shoulds” and allowing the truth in is no small feat.

Truthfully, I think admitting the truth to yourself is even harder than letting go of a steady paycheck or your home address. Seriously. For me, the greatest amount of pain is in the spaces where indecision roams-free. As soon as I make up my mind, listening to that pesky little gut…Hello, relief. Nice of you to drop by.

Even if what lies ahead will be hard, it’s the “right kind” of hard.

And, let’s face it. Moving is hard. Moving frankly sucks. Feeling the weight of all the things you’ve purchased. Having to decide: Keep, Sell, Donate. Repeat. It’s exhausting. It makes me think less of myself for having bought that peacock laden toilet paper holder I never got around to installing.

Leaving one’s home in search of the unknown is scary as hell.

Leaving your beloved family. And your dearest friends. Leaving the familiarity of your surroundings - even the stuff you didn’t care for. Like that neighbor who keeps inviting you to dinner and stares shamelessly at your yabos. Even he seems comforting compared to the unknown.

I mean, he’s YOUR creepy neighbor, right?

Leaving may be scary as hell. But staying and never trying scares me more.

I’ve heard it said that at the end of your life, when your body is too tired to do much of anything, you will have your memories to keep you company. I want to make sure that this here noggin is chock-a-block full of rich and joy-filled memories. Ones I can replay and replay and say “Holy shit. I can’t believe that was my life!”

“If you don't try, you'll never know
And so my lad as I've explained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained”

And so, my friend. We must try or we will never know.

Here. We. Go.

—Lauren

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Episode #25 In Sickness & In Health: Financial Preparedness & Emotional Resilience with Ullas Perez

In this enlightening and very candid episode of the Cupalo Conversation podcast, host Lauren Hannon sits down with Ullas Perez, a seasoned technology leader with a remarkable career journey. From leading engineering teams and boasting an impactful seven-year tenure at The Boeing Company, the discussion takes a poignant turn as Ullas opens up about the unexpected health crisis that derailed her career.

After coming into contact with black mold, Ullas suffered from chronic health issues that ultimately forced her to leave the workforce. Despite this challenging setback, Ullas and her husband were financially prepared, thanks to her disability insurance coverage, which helped them navigate the financial turmoil.

Throughout the episode, Ullas emphasizes the importance of financial and emotional preparedness in facing life's harsh realities, such as job loss, income loss, sickness, and death.

She passionately discusses her mission to help others create a life of abundance and purpose through motivational speaking and financial education. By sharing her personal experiences and insights, Ullas aims to empower listeners to proactively plan for uncertainties and build resilience in the face of adversity.

Tune in to this episode for a heartfelt conversation that blends personal storytelling with practical advice on navigating the unpredictable challenges of life.

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Meme of the Week:

Putting Your Two Weeks In Be Like

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Job Alerts:

As of right now we have a bunch of fabulous candidates in play for our open roles! As soon as more come available I will be sure to drop them here and let y’all know : )

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