Let Me Introduce Myself

I have a shelf in my bedroom of dusty books like the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and “A Purpose Driven Life” -- all of them barely touched. Supposedly those books are very good, but they are just no match to Sex in the City re-runs at 10 p.m.

So I am amazed by people who have well-established five- or 10-year plans. I used to try that, but gave it up when I turned 30 and my “plan” called for being married with three kids. I wasn’t even engaged.

I prefer to stick to simple, universal goals. Be a good wife, loving mom, loyal friend, honest worker. This approach offers flexibility whenever I’m faced with life’s numerous crossroads.

I encountered my most significant crossroad when I was 27. I was living in a charming neighborhood in Washington, D.C., had a decent job and spent most of my time deciding what to eat, where to travel, and how to be entertained on weekends. I really loved the big city, the East Coast and my complete freedom to do whatever I pleased. I was prepared to live in Washington a longtime.

So, it was rather surprising to my friends when, two days before I was scheduled to start grad school there, I declared, “I’m moving back to North Dakota.”

These people thought my North Dakota heritage was quaint, but they couldn’t imagine why I would ever move back to North Dakota -- not even for a cool job. “Working for the governor of North Dakota is like working for the mayor of Baltimore,” one of my sarcastic East Coast friends said.

So be it, I thought. I knew what I was leaving on the East Coast and was excited about the opportunity to go home. Two weeks later I turned my white Pontiac Sunbird west and drove to Bismarck to be Ed Schafer’s communications director.

That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I’m very thankful for the providence that led me down this path. My grandparents are among those indestructible people who came to North Dakota when they were young, and through levels of toil none of us can appreciate, helped make this state livable. And, despite the fact that I am the youngest of eight children, all but one of my siblings still live here. We could be a poster family to defy “outmigration.”

I love North Dakota, the way it looks, feels, smells (except near the Simplot plant in Grand Forks) and especially the people who live here. Moving back to North Dakota was a turning point in my life. It changed my career path, fueled a latent interest in politics, and allowed what might have been a doomed long-distance relationship to grow into marriage.

We all face crossroads large and small every day. My life is littered with them. Writing this column is another, less dramatic example. I have a journalism degree and wrote a weekly column as a student, but for the last 20 years I’ve been writing words almost exclusively for other people to say.

I’ve written well over 500 speeches and probably twice as many news releases, guest editorials and letters to the editor. But writing a big speech for Gov. Schafer was much easier than writing my own name on this column. I feel like I’m being “outed” as a public commentator.

I’m dangerously close to 40. My husband and I have three children under age five and I work part-time on communications projects for a few different clients. All of this is to say, I really wasn’t looking for things to do when presented with this writing project. Yet, I couldn’t say no. My husband thinks it’s the beginning of a mid-life crisis. He’s expecting me to start writing about tattoos and trips to Vegas.

Well, I doubt it’ll ever be that interesting, but I will give it my best. I can’t stop thinking about topics. I’m particularly drawn to community issues, parenting, cultural trends and changes. Our society is so busy being busy, I think many of us are guilty of doing more than thinking. This column is my opportunity to stop and think.

I’m excited about this unexpected new path. Hopefully I’ll find my own voice along the way, and who knows, maybe even a 10-year plan!