Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, I went to Florida. To look for my soul. I looked high and low.  Over palm trees and around gators.  Through sunset clouds and humid mornings.  On hot tar parking lots and bath warm blue pools of water.  I looked in the schools and walked through universities. Asked strangers if they have either seen my soul or know how I could find it.  I even spend many hours in church, begging God to show me!  "Where is my soul, Lord? What do you want me to do?"  

 I started into the hot sun and wondered, "Where could I be?  I have come so far from the Midwest, that this voyage has to be what is leading me to my soul! All that time and money and effort has got to show me something!"  So, I continued to look.

Then one day, I gave up.  Packed up everything I owned into my car, gave away what wouldn't fit, said goodbye to my first floor apartment, dropped my key in an envelope into the apartment office mail slot, and turned my car north. I drove. I drove for 20 hours.  Stopping to spend the night in middle Georgia.  Wondering, "If my soul wasn't in Florida, then where is it?  Will I find it back in the Midwest?" 

Before I moved to florida, I spent many nights starring out the sliding glass doors of my Midwest apartment, wondering if I went on this journey to Florida, if I would find my soul.           I never imagined I would turn around and come back in defeat. 

It's been a year and 5 months since I have been back.  And I've realized something....  I never needed to look for my soul in Florida.  It wasn't there.  I never needed to look for my soul in the Midwest.  It wasn't there either.  Every single answer I was looking for was in me.  So here I am.  And yes, I have finally found my soul. It's been with me all along. I just forgot to ask one very important person.......me.