To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don’t know
Where I’ve been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado…
Oh… this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life…
This song by One Republic summarizes the last five years of my life. Since entering back into the world as a singleton I’ve lived in New York and L.A., traveled to places like India and Peru, and always coming home with off-the-wall stories.
While I was traveling the globe, most of my friends were firmly planted in their beautiful young families and 9-5’s. They’d often comment in awe at my “exciting” lifestyle. One of them even said, “Ingrid… you should write a book. Your story is so Eat, Pray, Love but like, ten times better. I’d buy it.”
Yet, as much as they may have envied me, I confess I probably envied them more.
Yes, I was blessed to see some amazing things, but that’s not what this story is about. My life may have seemed glamorous from the outside, but it was filled with a lot of grief, fear and disillusionment, which left me threadbare and worn. But isn’t that what all the best stories are made of?
Now that I’m back at home in Texas, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve gained these last few years through this crazy ride. No uber-successful career or family of my own… yet. But, many miles under my belt and a wealth of experience. Lessons in humility, faith, trust, and love, to name a few. While off searching for what I wanted, I actually found what I needed. It hasn’t been easy but it’s certainly been a journey worth taking. And through all my ups and downs I’ve finally come to peace with the fact that no matter what:
It’s gonna be a good life.
Photo by: Jessica Lin, NYC
Ingrid Schaffenburg's Blog 
Awesome post. My baby blogger is finally walking. Watch out for that end table :D.
Haha!! Couldn’t have done it without you Kristen 😉
Definitely sounds like a book in the making. Maybe it just needs time to stew for a while. 🙂 Welcome home to the US of A!
For sure. Thank you Adriana!
Welcome to blogging. Sounds like you’ve had an interesting few years. I look forward to hearing more about it or where you are going to go from here. I’m a new WANA convert and am writing my first book while starting up a publishing firm with friends. Soon I hope to have a blog up but the corporate site has taken priority to my author stuff.
Wow! Congratulations. Best of luck with all that. How exciting!
Congratulations on your first post 🙂 It sounds like you have a lot of blog material just waiting to be released!
Thanks Melinda 🙂 I sure do. Can’t wait to share!
Hi, Ingrid! The grass is always greener, right? We all want what we don’t have. I wish that wasn’t so! We all go through similar emotional and spiritual journeys, whether it’s around the world or around the neighborhood. The location doesn’t matter, as long as you learn something for the improvement of yourself!
I’m looking forward to reading more about your experiences. Sounds fascinating!
Absolutely! I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for your support Laura!
Welcome to blogging!
Sounds like you will have many stories to share.
You got to watch out for that Kristen though, she’ll talk you into ALL sorts of things. 😛
Nice to meet you!
Haha! Duly noted 😉
Nice to meet you too!
I’m looking forward to reading more!
Thank you!
Ingrid,
Nicely done. It’s funny because I set out to have a 9-5 job only to discover that the career I had planned for was not as fulfilling as I hoped it would be. I had to leave it all behind and let the rest unfold. I’ve been blessed with the best of both worlds, the ability and resources to travel, and a wonderful home to return to. Best of luck on your new blogging endeavor.
Thank you so much Rachel! Yeah… I hear ya about the 9-5’s. Been there myself. And I’m now in that wonderful place where I’m waiting to see what unfolds 😉
Congratulations on your first blog. Can’t wait to read more.
Thank you Louise!
Hi Ingrid. I’m a Kristen Lamb follower and belong to the offshoot group WANA Minions on Yahoo. I look forward to your future blogs because you know you have a lot to share. Experience is the meat of blogging in my opinion and you sure have had a ton of them.
See you around soon.
Patti
Kristen’s teaching has been invaluable to me. Couldn’t have done this without her. Thanks for the support!
INGRID!!! I’m so HAPPY you started a blog! I will follow it for sure! I miss you and I can’t wait to hear what you have to say! xoxoxo 🙂
Thank you Tara! So great hearing from you 🙂 Miss you too!! xoxo
Hi Ingrid.
Hope you’re doing ok. Traveling the world’s not so bad really is it?
You’d better be thinking of something to say of Mrs K will do something like make you cook. Oh wait, she did that already 🙂
Best of luck.
Cheers!
Thanks Nigel! Yeah… traveling was definitely the highlight. Can’t get enough!
Hope to see you at the ranch again soon. And you can be sure Mrs. K is after me to get writing which is fine by me 😉
I live that song. It is so right now for me as well. There’s gotta be a good life in my present and hopefully my future. Thankfully, I was blessed to be reacquainted with you now that you’re back in Texas.
Great spot btw!
Thanks Nadia! And I’m blessed to have you as a friend. Let’s talk soon about meeting up next week.
Will do!
Perfect!!!! The picture is gorgeous too!
Love n miss you.
Love and miss you too 🙂 xoxo
Welcome to the blogosphere! It sounds like you have so many wonderful story seeds. Can’t wait to see what they turn into. 😀
Thanks Sonia!
It sounds like you have all you need to start that awesome life.
I’m ready as I’ll ever be!
Ingrid, what a beautiful journey you describe. I can’t wait to hear more. My own wanderlust has my husband and I on the high seas. I can relate that no matter what corner of the world we see, what we are looking for is right inside of us.
Wonderful first blog, Inge!!!!
Love you!!!! xoxoxoxo
Mom
Thanks Ma 😉
Welcome, Ingrid! Terrific first blog, and I love the picture, too. Let me know how I can support you in your endeavors. 🙂
Awesome! Thanks Piper 🙂
Welcome to the blogosphere! Isn’t it so true that we often don’t know what we need until we’re looking back on it in hindsight. I look forward to reading some of the lessons you learned along the path.
Thank you Marcy!
I can’t wait to read more. It seems like ages ago – well, I guess it was ages ago – since I last saw you in LA. Best of luck to you wherever your journey may take you.
It was right when I moved out there in 2000. That has been ages ago! Thanks for the support Patrick!
Love your first post and looking forward to reading more. Sounds like it’s been an interesting few years. Now to get my own blog going … 🙂
You should! It’s so fun. My friend Kristen helped me a lot. You should check out her blog for tips. http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ She also wrote a really funny book on blogging that’s mentioned there. Good luck!
Hey, Ingrid! Welcome back to Texas!
Actually, what you did so far is what a prof dreams all his students do after they graduate. You lived out our International/Intercultural Communication class from TCU! From London to LA, from NY to New Delhi and so on. Enviable personal growth. Absolutely stunning. Experience teaches what university degrees do not. So, own it all and use it wisely in the future!
As your mentor/advisor I am always here for you!!
Dr. B..
Wow! Thanks Dr. B! You’ve just given me a whole new perspective. Hard to see the forest for the trees sometimes. Your words warm my heart. I’ve got more exciting news so I’ll be in touch!
Welcome to the blogosphere! Your life does sound romantic and glamorous, but there’s nothing like a familiar bed at the end of a long day. Hope you get to stay in Texas for awhile.
Kristen is so amazing, I’m glad she got you to blog, it’s going to be such fun…
I hope to stay here a while too. It’s nice being home! Thanks for your support Tameri!
so glad to get a glimpse of you, ingrid. you’re in my reader…..
*yea*
Awesome 🙂
Amazing first blog, by an amazing friend. thank you Ingrid for all you do, for who you are, and who you are becoming. I hope this beginning is fun and nurtures you along to other great beginnings. You ROCK!
Thank you Shawn! You and Kristen have been such a blessing in my life. I am so thankful for you and your generosity 🙂
Who’s that beauty in the red dress? Haha. Love the blog so far! Can’t wait to read more!
hehe 😉 Thanks Jenny!
I see you put some of my better photographs to good use.
They’re so beautiful. So thankful to have these memories so well preserved!