Road Less Traveled

I received this blog update (Zen Habits) in my inbox and immediately had to find a way to save it for Sophia to read later on =) This is something I wish I had read or was told WAYYYYYYY before (I've read something similar to this years ago)... better late than never! :D

I'm going to share the post here in case some of you may have not clicked on the link ;P

Letter to an 18-year-old on the Career Path Less TraveledBy Leo Babauta 

Recently an 18-year-old who is finishing school wrote to me, asking for advice on choosing a career without enough life and work experience to make an intelligent decision. 

He said, “Should I take the road less traveled, which may be risky and fearful, or choose a college course that interests me to some degree and see where that leads to. I suppose I don’t want to end up as the typical everyday-joe at the office from 9-5. I want to be different from the masses, to make an impact on this world, to be fulfilled. How do I get the best start into adulthood?” 

It’s such a great question. And what I love is that he’s asking the question in the first place — most 18-year-olds just take the safe route. 

Here’s what I’d say: take the career path less traveled. 

If you don’t want to be the typical Everyday Joe, in a 9-to-5 office job, don’t go the route that everybody else takes. 

If you want to be different than the masses, you have to take a different path.I took the safe path when I was 18, and got a job and went to college, and it didn’t screw me up … but it also took me nearly 20 years before I finally found what I loved to do. It was a struggle, being on the road that’s well traveled, because I was consigned to a career I didn’t really like. 

Yes, the career path less traveled is scarier. There are no guarantees. You are sticking your neck out, taking risks, being different, probably to the scorn of others. This is lonely. 

But the loneliness is temporary. Soon you’ll find others who are doing things different, and you’ll connect with them in a way you’d never have connected with the people taking the safe path. You’ll be inspired by them, and inspire them in turn. 

And the scariness is a lesson worth learning — if you can overcome a bit of fear, you can do anything. You’re not limited to the world of comfort and safety. 

So what do you do on this scary, lonely, exciting path? 

That’s totally up to you — you are empowered to figure things out on your own.But here are some ideas:

• Learn about who you are. Meditate, and blog. Those are the best two tools for learning about yourself.

• Teach yourself stuff. The Internet has anything you want to learn, from writing to 3D animation to programming to carpentry to guitar. Never stop learning.

• Find out how to motivate yourself. There will be times when you don’t feel like doing anything. This is a good problem to have, because you’ll have to figure out how to solve it or else go get a boring job where someone motivates you. Solve it. You’ll be much better prepared for the road.

• Figure out what you’re passionate about. This isn’t easy, because it takes a lot of trial and error. Try a lot of things. When you get good at something, by the way, you’ll like it much more. You’ll suck at everything at first.

• Help others. When someone doesn’t know how to do something, teach them. When they need a hand, lend it. When they’re stuck, offer yourself up. Seek ways to help. It will teach you a lot, including who you are and what you’re passionate about. It’s also good motivation.

• Connect with others. Find people who love what you love, who are doing weird things, who travel, who make their own path. They are awesome and fun to hang out with.

• Learn to need little. If you need very little, you don’t need to make much. This frees you up to learn and explore more.

• Explore the world. You can travel very cheaply if you need little. Meet new people. Learn languages. Work odd jobs.

• Get really good at something. Practice, read more, watch others who are good, steal ideas and make them your own, work on projects that excite you and learn as you work on them, practice more.

• Teach something valuable. If you learn to program, teach a beginner. If you learn poker or guitar or martial arts, teach that. People will thank you.

• Get paid as a freelancer. When you’ve learned a skill, hire yourself out online. You don’t have to be awesome yet, just don’t charge a lot. Try to really deliver. On time. Be trustworthy and your reputation will grow.

• Sell something. Make a small product, whether digital or real world, and sell it. You learn a lot by selling.

• Learn to be a good person. Show up on time. Try your best to meet deadlines. Be honest. Learn compassion. Keep your word. Especially to yourself.

If you do half these things, you’ll love the path. If you do almost all of them, your impact on the world will be palpable.

I know that was a lot to read, but it is definitely worthwhile! As I get older, I'm constantly reminded of the importance of living life the way one WANTS rather than the way one SHOULD. Of course, I would never tell Sophia to just drop everything and not be sensible about the journey to her dreams... there's always a way if she'll just be smart about the trek! 

To my sweet Sophia... even though the road to your dreams is most likely going to be lined with challenges and you'll definitely have to overcome fear that might slow you down for a tad, it will be those times that you will learn THEE most and it'll be what you look back on to reaffirm your strength and capabilities. When fear begins to show it's face, that's a sign it's time for you to muster up your courage and stare fear right in the eyes and show it who's boss! Let it be your north star... yes, I said that... let fear be your guide... because when you see it, it means you've gotten too comfortable and need to get out of that hazard zone. I know you will feel safe and secure in that box, but who wants to be in there when all the colors, fluffy marshmallows, ice cream, and all the fun excitement is right outside of the boundaries?? There's a saying--"A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships were built for."  

It has taken me such a long time to let go of fear and all the "shoulds" and start living the way I want to live--with fierceness and passion! It's still a work-in-progress but I'm definitely more ahead of where I was, and that was when I started stepping outside the walls I had built myself.

I started thinking of all this a couple years back when I thought of how I would love to teach Sophia to value life experiences and to travel the world (an eye opener!). As most of us know (and if you don't, listen up!), we teach by our actions, not our words. If I want to teach Sophia to be the best person she can be and to not be afraid of the unknown, I've got to be the one to set the example... and so... my journey to betterment began =) I definitely still have a lot of learning to do--it's a never-ending process--but I'm just glad to be on the trail =)

With a little moral support (that made the biggest impact--thank you to my cousin and Eli!!), I let go of the fear and started inching outside of my "safe harbor." Looking back, it seems like I took leaps to get to where I am now; but in the process, they were just little steps... every little bit helps!

Anyway... moral of the story... 

Sophia, live the life YOU want to live, not the one you SHOULD live. Be sensible and smart about the process and always keep taking a step forward, no matter how little it may seem to you--because those little baby steps will accumulate to become leaps and bounds! And NEVER let fear determine where you don't go, let it show you where to go =) Live outside the lines--it's more fun to play in the rainbow and the field of endless possibilities!

Okay, lecture is over... phew! ;P

BUT!! Before ending this, we know that no post is complete without some pics!

LOVE of my life!!

A little gift from my cookie! Warms my heart!!

LOVE,

COOKIE & MAMA