I will admit right up front here that I get a lot of inspiration from Seth Godin’s blog.  I’m not stealing, what and how he writes makes me think about my own life and inspires me to write.

As a kid I was a mid pack kind of guy.  Not the last picked for a game but generally not a first or second round pick.  I’m sure there were many reasons for that.  I was never terribly athletic.  Probably about average.  I was young for my grade (I started kindergarten at 4).  Most of all though I think because I wasn’t a “townie” I didn’t play a lot of pick up games after school.  I grew up in the country and a game of football at my house was usually me and my brother one on one in a field.  Not necessarily the most exciting venue.

This not being picked thing followed me through elementary, junior high and high school and pretty much in to college.  It never depressed me, I just kind of figured that’s who I was. My friends were all good to great athletes and it was kind of a privilege, in my mind, to hang with them. Sounds pretty lame to say it now.

When I graduated from college I had the opportunity to move about 4 hours away from home. I went tocollege very close to home so this was my very first time truly away from home. Without even contempaling it much, I took the job and moved away. At first intending to return some day but eventually realizing that I never would.

The reason I now know that I never returned is because I started picking myself. I was no longer sitting around waiting for others to pick me. Decisions were mine to make and though difficult at first I started to relish it. I changed
jobs several times without asking permission. I got my Master’s degree and a principal job without seeking approval. Children came and we raised them without anyone to tell us what to do. It wasn’t always easy but it changed me.

I know now why I say I won’t go home again. I became who I am here and I like who I am here. As Cross Canadian Ragweed say, “You’re always 17 in your home town.”