What do you want to be when your grow up? The question stings as I mull over how many times and how many different ways I have been asked to choose a path. A path, just one, singular, never paths or journeys. Just one final destination. Choose it now, live it forever.
I was asked in grade school where my answer aided the teachers to label me as who I wanted to become. Maybe lay foot to my strengths and weaknesses. I was asked again in high school as I visited college campuses and reviewed vigorous, intimidating academic programs to pursue the degree of my chosen career. I was asked by my parents, hoping that whatever I choose, I would be happy, successful, and fulfilled. I was asked by distant relatives when we would run into each other and make it past the “my, how you have grown” phase of our conversation. My response,? Always something along the lines of marketing or business. My younger sister adapted and would fire the question back. “I’m not sure. What about you Uncle John? Any ideas on what you would like to be when you grow up?” I always envied her bravery and wits. She was not worried that she had to come up with some impressive answer. She was self assure. She knew, at least in some aspect, that she had this. This life thing.
A bit a defiance is something my sisters and I never lacked. We grew up in a loving, supportive family. Our parents were always there to help. They sacrificed, they splurged, they built us up. Being true to ourselves, we are big dreamers who challenge ourselves. I think sometimes, we get bored. We set out to embark on a journey and once we have proven to ourselves we can do it and the goal is in the bag, we move on. I think that is why it was easy for me to choose marketing. It doesn’t stay the same. It is not just part of one industry. It is not just one type of job. It is constantly growing, evolving, ever-changing. It made me feel like I dodged the big life decision everyone else had to make.
Fast forward to now. I am twenty-nine. I have learned so much and regret little. I whole heartily believe you make the best decision you can given all the information you have at the time. If I was to have every ounce of knowledge and experience as I do now, I would have made the same decisions, same miscalculations, and same ‘trust your gut’ listening wins back then. Yet, I am living out the last years of my twenties reevaluating my passions, goals, and dreams. I do not see this as a sort of failure, but almost a requirement in moving forward. Having quick check points with ourselves is vital. Like when I started enjoying salmon. My mom, an amazing chef in our household kitchen, would make salmon every so often while growing up. I hated salmon. Nevertheless, every time she would make it, she would insist I try it. She would even follow it up with some line about “your taste buds change” and “you could love salmon today, and be missing out”! Eventually, she was right. My taste buds did change. Meal staples now would be things I would never have thought to put on my plate a decade ago. I believe this rings true for the rest of our bodies. With one exception. Sometimes our soul doesn’t have an immediate reaction to changes. It is not like taking a bite of salmon and getting an immediate response, “Yep, still not a fan. Try again never”. It takes time to get to know who you have become as a result of all the environmental changes, physical growth, and internal shifts you have made. A huge part of growth is finishing the cycle and reflecting on the past and having tough conversations with yourself. After all, you deserve it.
It has become admirable to stick with things. To dig in, and suck it up. It is, admirable. Sucking it up is hard and not everyone has it in them to muster enough patience, time and energy to continue on the same path. But, do you know what is also hard? Change. Pushing yourself past the known and taking a chance. Risking steady, reliable, and trusty and replacing it with potential failure, ridicule and embarrassment. If you find yourself at this fork in the road, take a moment to reflect. Both paths are uncomfortable, but only you can choose which awkward, admirable, human, life you want to live.
Cheers to many paths and many destinations.
maintaininghuman.com 