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How would you like to spend the rest of your life living within a 5-mile circle of where you live now? Would you do it willingly?

While living in Atlanta, Georgia (in Clarksville, actually), Mrs. MZM and I met a woman at our church who, to my utter amazement, cheerfully and quite vocally expressed that exact desire (although her husband and kids had attitudes that were more ‘conventional’). Only, with her, it was more like a Rule!

She never went on vacations, all her shopping was within that radius, and all her family and friends (the ones she would visit anyway) were there, too. Once we actually heard her state proudly that if her husband ever tried to move her away, she would cheerfully divorce him - and she was completely serious!

It was almost as if (at least as far as she were concerned) outside that circle there were a sign that read, “Here be Dragons!”

I have to admit; I simply don’t understand that attitude. I mean, how could she be serious? C’mon, there’s a whole world out there; just think of all the things there are to see and discover and experience! Why would anybody deliberately and severely limit their world?

If you’ve ever checked my “About” page, you’ll have seen that I’ve lived and worked in quite a few places around the U.S. and the world. What would my life been like without it? Who knows? But one thing I can say with absolute conviction: my life is far richer for it.

Make the Leap

One of the entries from the most recent group writing project, What I Learned From a Squirrel (from G.L. Hoffman at What Would Dad Say), really illustrates my point. If you haven’t read it yet, pop on over (don’t worry, it’s a quick read; I’ll be here when you get back).

It’s about watching a Papa squirrel teach his little baby squirrel how to jump from one tree to another, even though the distance was quite daunting. I just love this concluding line:

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not talking about necessary limitations such as laws, physical handicaps, or… (dare I say it?) morality. What I’m talking about are self-imposed limitations; specifically unnecessary ones.

Think About It

In what ways are you limiting yourself? Are those limits really necessary? What would happen if you relaxed those limits a bit? What would change?

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