From the Land of Ahs to Oz

Growing up in Kansas, I spent my youth sporting the 80's slogan branding Kansas as the Land of Ahs. There were t-shirts with the fabulous yellow, orange, and brown logo with matching stickers to affix to my notebooks. Now, 40-some years later, I'm living in Oz. The Australian Oz. Which should not be confused with the Kansas-centric movie The Wizard of Oz. Oz in this context is a play on the words Aussie and Aus.

In between Kansas and Australia, we lived in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry. We moved to South Carolina a few months before my 50th birthday. Aside from the years when I was attending college, I had spent my life in Winfield, Kansas. Life was different in South Carolina. No family. No established friends. No familiar places or routines. We traded our1901 farmhouse set in the middle of pastureland for a home in a gated community complete with a golf course and tidal marsh views. All good, just different.

To center myself, I sought similarities in the locations and found each location to have beautiful sunsets. Watching the sunset provided familiarity, centered me, and helped me establish a sense of connectedness and belonging in the new locations. Each had its beauty. I share with you these beautifully different sunset photos with the hope that you will contemplate what gives you a sense of belonging in new situations or places.

Until Next Time,

Dana

Sunset from my family's Kansas farm.

Sunset in Britinya, Queensland, AU.

South Carolina Lowcountry sunset.