The choices we make

I’m in a rather philosophical mood today.

I think it started when I stepped out my back door and my feet flew out from under me and my head cracked on the bottom step. Maybe it jarred something loose.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about the choices we make in life, both the good ones and the bad ones.

Of course, at the time, all of our choices seem like good ones. It’s not until later that we realize we could have done something completely different and the outcome may have been amazing.

For instance, I could have stayed at my last job, made way more money and lived where there was a multitude of shopping, dining and other entertaining possibilities.

Instead, I chose to come home.

Sure, for a lot of people, especially young people, coming home isn’t always on their radar. For the most part, they just want to get out of their hometown as quickly as possible and live their lives as far away from home as they can.

But eventually the smell of home draws them back. Those memories become nostalgic and they realize home is where their heart really is.

It’s that way for me. Sure, a few more fast food places would be awesome, but nothing compares to sitting at the table together being silly over dinner, even if its just frozen pizza.

Crawling the mall is a lot of fun, but it’s just not the same as poking through small stores and finding that unique present for someone or a perfect photo for your wall taken by a local photographer.

I’ll grant you, big city life can be great – stores are open every day of the week til all hours of the night, but in our small town we get a break. That break lets us spend time with our family and friends, slow down a little and enjoy life.

Or maybe, that break lets us wax philosophical from time to time.