Baby Steps: Bound for Glory

I have to admit I’m starting to freak out a little bit.

When I moved back to Chicago in August, my parents were kind enough to allow me to stay with them. I knew I would have a few months of living in a heavy state of high school reversion before they’d depart for their winter home in California, at which point I’d have their place to myself and five more months to find a means of income before they’d return and put me out on the street.

Well, actually, I’m sure they wouldn’t put me out on the street. But an adult child and his parents can only tolerate living under the same roof for so long before the relationship begins to take any number of unhealthy turns. And I’m not interested in testing any limits.

When December came and my folks boarded their westbound flight, I breathed a big sigh of relief and felt comfortable with the task at hand: Find a job by May. But since then, time has flown by, and it occurred to me last week that the days past are greater than the days ahead in the imaginary December to May calendar. Yikes!

I have long prided myself on my ability to plan well for the future while continuing to keep myself grounded in the present moment. But right now the two look like they’re on a collision course, and I can’t seem to slow the darn train down.

But as I continue to barrel through this tunnel of uncertainty, I keep reassuring myself of one thing: I’m moving forward.

Unfortunately, I have not yet found a way to stop time. It’s been said on many occasions by people far wiser than I that time is our greatest commodity. And I’m sure there’s somebody somewhere working on a way to bottle and sell it.

But until then, I have no choice but to keep plodding forward, doing what I’m doing, and have faith that it will all work out in the end.

If I were sitting at home playing video games and watching movies all day long, perhaps I couldn’t be so sure. But at this point, I’m confident that I’m doing all I can to put myself in the right position to identify opportunities and seize them when they present themselves.

And in the end, that’s all I can really do. I can’t force the stock market to rally. I can’t force companies to stop cutting jobs. I can’t force someone to hire me.

What I CAN do is be mindful of my surroundings. Talk to people. Research companies. Join organizations. Actively participate in my community. Continue to better myself. Be open to learning new things. Keep a positive attitude. Have faith in myself and the world around me.

If I’m doing these things, I’m moving forward. The steps might be small. And I might not be certain of my exact direction. But I know I’m headed for good things.

There’s no getting around the fact that it’s a job I require to provide sustenance and the means to navigate through our money-driven society. But it’s all the people I’m meeting, the experiences I’m living and the lessons I’m learning that will truly add value to my life.

Comments

[Rob Mark]

"What I CAN do is be mindful of my surroundings. Talk to people. Research companies. Join organizations. Actively participate in my community. Continue to better myself. Be open to learning new things. Keep a positive attitude. Have faith in myself and the world around me."

Yeah sure Daniel ... but what are you doing with the rest of your time. You're young. You don't need to waste eight hours sleeping every night do you?

It will get better. Promise.

[Carol Hindin]

Keep the faith!