A reflection; A Calling Becomes a Reality
The most pure, pristine area I have ever been to.
The most caring, collaborative, supportive, and passionate people I have ever met.
An “untouched area.”
God’s Country.
Home.
^^ those are ways I would describe Leelanau County ^^
I noticed it in college, I had this calling to live in Glen Arbor. We grew up with a family cottage at the Homestead. It was where I truly felt at peace, at home, and it was where my heart was. As I shared with others that it be my dream to live in Glen Arbor, I was encouraged to either expand that dream to Leelanau County, or to take it even more realistically and know that I probably couldn’t move to that area until I was retired or had an extremely good career… but despite the discouragement that calling was still there. However, I wasn’t pursuing it, I just knew one day I’d get there.
While managing J House Juice, a raw juice and smoothie café in Grosse Pointe Michigan, I started hosting Wellness Wednesday Classes. One of those classes was a vision boarding workshop. Myself and other women got together to create vision boards out of magazine clippings. It was then that I saw a photo of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. The image was captured in the fall and focused on a beautiful lake, that in my opinion looked like Glen Arbor. I said to myself, well I got it! I will apply for a position at Kripalu, work there, and THEN I can move to Glen Arbor.
I have to tell you, it wasn’t a week later when I received a phone call from my Uncle Mark. He has been long time friends with Harbor House Trading Company’s owner Richard Roberts. My uncle had just finished a visit with him. He said, “Katherine, do you have any interest in applying for a manager position at the Harbor House?” I had to sit down.
To make a long story short, I applied, went up for my interview, and decided I had to move to Leelanau County! There was one dilemma… Housing.
As many reading this can agree, affordable housing is a large issue in Northern Michigan. One that I see community members constantly working together to improve. But, I was unaware that we had a family friend who lived in Glen Arbor. She eagerly offered to let me stay at her home on Fisher Lake for my first month in northern Michigan. I arrived October 1, 2016.
It wasn’t until a week later when it hit me. I was upstairs at the desk in my room working on my Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Program, I looked out the window, and to my amazement it was almost the exact image of the one on my vision board. Kripalu, during the fall with a beautiful lake behind colorful trees. I’ll tell you, I full-heartedly believe vision boards work.
So I had finally made it, I was living in Glen Arbor! My heart was soaring.
“Change is the only constant in life”
I stayed on a cloud 10 for my time living in Glen Arbor. I am an extremely social person so finding ways to make friends wasn’t too difficult but, I slowly became aware that Glen Arbor wasn’t the best place for a 24 year old’s social life. I decided to stay positive and soak it up like a mini wellness retreat for myself, and boy did I!
Then, when November hit, life aligned again, and I praise God for the blessings. I moved to Leland and I currently live there now. Living in Leland was not even on my radar. But, I quickly fell in love with the community and location. There was much to do in this happening little town. There were exciting events like old fashioned cars, wooden boats and art shows, farmers markets, and parties at the Leland Lodge, the Cove, the Blue Bird, and the River Side Inn. I quickly learned Leland knows how to party with class and commitment to creating fun events that support the community. Not to mention, Leland has the BEST sunsets I have ever seen.
Knowing I wasn’t planning on staying in retail, but also that I really wanted to stay in Northern Michigan, I kept my prayers focused on opportunities. At first I had this prayer... I prayed with an extremely worried voice, “Lord I’m tiring 26 soon and I’m really going to need a job with benefits and better pay...” I prayed that over and over for a week soo worried. Then! Jim, my friend from Huntington Bank came to me and said he had an opportunity that would have benefits and better pay... honestly they were the words right out of my prayer!
Ecstatic, I went for interview. During the interview Jim said that I would have to take an online personality test from Huntington, and no matter what, if I failed he would not be able to hire me. I thought there was no way I could fail that test and I took it. A day or so later I got a call from Jim. Reluctantly, Jim let me know I didn’t pass. Disappointed I then I laughed out loud. How do you fail a personality test!?! I sat there quietly and it hit me... my prayers were so worried... maybe God was showing me "I’ll give you what you need, with the right timing, just stop worrying and trust me!"
So that’s what I ended up doing. Then, the cards aligned unexpectedly, but yet again full of blessings and I now proudly serve as a Grantmaking Associate at the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.
“Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.”
So, now as a 26 year old, I have to say living in Leelanau County was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to launch my own yoga studio and teach summer yoga classes at Bonobo Winery. I joined a co-ed hockey team, met an abundance of new friends (of all ages), found a church and young adult groups, filled my time off with beach walks, hiking, kayaking, partying in the Traverse City night life, and wine, cider, and spirit tasting with the most beautiful views!
I have a strong passion for sharing that we can and should love who we are, where we live, and what we are doing. It doesn’t matter if we do not have it figured out. From what I’m learning simply trust God that all the pieces will fall into place and they will.
One of my favorite quotes is “Do the best you can with what you have where you are,” and that is what I will continue to do the rest of my time on this winding road called life, of course while knowing to chill because God’s got it handled.
While I grow in my career at the Community Foundation I plan to pursue those convictions. I really look forward to where this path leads me, and when I feel called to vision board, I am very optimistic of what I actually might be bringing into my life!