Flight 1 / February 15, 2012
AMBER RAE / Passion catalyst, authority challenger, motivational muse
‘Go. Start now. Take the first step. Begin your journey. If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.’
Website heyamberrae.com / Twitter @heyamberrae
Flight Routes San Francisco (SFO) - New York (JFK), New York (JFK) - Denver (DEN)
Airlines Virgin America, United
In Amber’s words:
Flights represent bittersweet endings and new beginnings. Every time I get on a plane, I experience a surge of energy. I find myself feeling grateful for the moment, reflecting on all that led up to this day and feeling anticipation for what’s next.
The first important flight I took was from San Francisco to New York in 2010. I had quit my job, sold all my belongings, and jumped on a one-way flight to begin my journey toward realizing my full potential. I knew New York was the place to begin. Two years in New York brought me experiences with over 20 start-ups, the accidental beginning of a “Nightowls” global movement, and the opportunity to work with Seth Godin.
Through these experiences, I learned a tremendous amount about who I am and why I exist. This inspired copious amounts writing, the launching of a “Passion Experiment” business and storytelling site, and finally, the realization that New York was no longer serving me. For a few months, this was difficult to admit to myself. I felt distracted and spread too thin across too many projects. I wasn’t fully focused on the work I knew I was meant to be doing. I noticed my aliveness slowly deteriorating.
Soon after, the opportunity to move to Boulder, Colorado presented itself. Boulder would be a place where I’d be surrounded by a tight-knit community of entrepreneurs, living in one of the healthiest places in the United States, and experiencing a massive change of pace. All of these things felt deeply appealing. But still, I felt afraid of leaving a place that had given me so much. When I paused to reflect on the opportunity and asked myself if I should go, my inner voice said “You need to go.” And so I did. I broke the lease on my TriBeCa apartment, traveled to Barcelona for a month to reflect and relax, and soon after, boarded a plane to Denver.
That flight began the next chapter of my journey. The chapter dedicated to focus, structure, working smart, and committing to the right things. I’m refining the foundation of who I am, giving my gifts, and living more healthily than ever before. I feel complete and deeply alive.
Where do you want to be? Where will you feel most complete? Go there. It’s time.
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