If you think you’re enlightened, go spend a week with your family. – Ram Dass

While I may not have been the good Jewish child turned Hindu Baba like Ram Dass, I’ve certainly followed the beat of my own drum. My winding path has garnered plenty of parental finger-wagging, headshaking, silent treatments, and the ever-popular ‘where did I go wrong’ proclamation followed by theatrical huffs and slamming doors.

Funny thing, in any other relatively functional family I’d be considered the black sheep. Fortunately, my older brother set the bar way too high to claim that coveted title.

I know. I know. I seem like a lovely person. An absolute dear. And I am when I wanna be. But I’m also a free spirit, an eternal seeker, a fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal. Our kind generally walks, skips, and runs through life leaving folks scratching their heads in our wake.

My coming-of-age tale is scattered across the country courtesy of Uhaul and fills the pages of three passports. Getting lost in the Himalayas and miraculously avoiding dysentery in India are only the tip of the iceberg. An ever-shifting whereabouts wasn’t the only moving target. My career path would have required a skilled marksman to take aim as I hurled myself passionately into countless endeavors in an effort to find my calling.

I’m happy to say I succeeded, which is why you're reading my words.

The family deserves much of the credit for my open-arms approach to life. By luck or cosmic design, a vexing upbringing provides the perfect recipe to produce the spiritual adventurer.

In truth, I have zero answers to life's biggest questions, but I did cultivate profound love and appreciation for my family. The life I’ve created is a direct result of jumping into this weird experience called life, with them.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

That's why I love Ram Dass’ quote. It reminds us that ultimately the nature of the human experience is the same. And so is the family dynamic. That’s comforting and inspiring and comical.

It’s why I’m here, eager to write your version of this thing we call life.