I'm a recent college graduate.
Wow.....
Those words sure sound hollow now.
If you had talked to me a month before graduation I was ready to kick ass and take names. I was blazing my own trail, adding notches in my belt with internships, and about to set off into the world with my suit and tie. I had my eyes set on the prize and nothing was going to stop me. Chest puffed and ready to flex my work force muscles.
Fast forward five months. (Insert VHS sound here)
None of the above has happened..... But not all is lost.
I may not be quite where I thought I'd be. Currently I'm a sales associate at the local running shop. If you had asked me, lets say two months ago, I would have told you any day now I'm going to be moving on to bigger things. Quite frankly a shitty attitude, yes naughty words are allowed on my blog.
I have zero shame in saying it, but I hit the point where I started to take the job for granted. That doesn't mean I dropped the ball at work, but I began to develop this dread. This sensation of barbed hooks dragging me down into this dark place of self-loathing and pity. God it felt sickening. It's like you are the protagonist in your own story and then suddenly you become some background character that no one seems know the name of.
The things that I loved seemed to become a little clouded. I started to lose focus and not pay attention to the things that matter most. Whether it be my relationships, my running, and even my self image. I was keeping busy; applying for jobs, going to work, and living my life.
One day it hit me...
Not like a friendly pat on the back. Quite the opposite in fact. It was more like the moment you fall on a downhill; and know you are going feet over ass.
I was the problem... (Believe me it stung)
I had adopted a very negative outlook because things weren't going the way I planned. A key lesson you would have thought my Grandfather had instilled; "Nothing, and I mean nothing ever goes just the way you plan." So when that great life lesson/epiphany finally came over me I decided to go about things differently. Here was my one and only guideline.
Be Grateful.....
With this in mind things slowly began to improve. My only goal was be a little bit better than I was the day before. Sure enough a change came. I began adopting a more healthy attitude about life and where I stood in the world. Believe me, it isn't easy. Everyday is a challenge in self-improvement.
I personally found this to be the guiding light when I interviewed with New Balance. I want to work for a running shoe brand. Sitting in their lobby was that self-affirming moment that I was moving in the right direction. During my interview I was just so happy to finally be talking to a brand like New Balance. It helped me realize that I was going to be okay. Unfortunately while I didn't get the position I am just happy to have got to talk to someone about a future in the industry.
At the end of the day a change in perspective will change the lens in which you view life. Sometimes you have this idea of how things are supposed to be and are blinded by what's going on around you. While I didn't plan on being where I am currently I know in the scheme of things I'm just where I need to be. With that warm and fuzzy thought instilled;
Go out into the world, not hollow, but with room to embrace all the opportunities that may come your way..
- A Gentleman Of The Road
PS: I wanted to have the title sound like "The Hunt For The Red October".....
Wow.....
Those words sure sound hollow now.
If you had talked to me a month before graduation I was ready to kick ass and take names. I was blazing my own trail, adding notches in my belt with internships, and about to set off into the world with my suit and tie. I had my eyes set on the prize and nothing was going to stop me. Chest puffed and ready to flex my work force muscles.
Fast forward five months. (Insert VHS sound here)
None of the above has happened..... But not all is lost.
I may not be quite where I thought I'd be. Currently I'm a sales associate at the local running shop. If you had asked me, lets say two months ago, I would have told you any day now I'm going to be moving on to bigger things. Quite frankly a shitty attitude, yes naughty words are allowed on my blog.
I have zero shame in saying it, but I hit the point where I started to take the job for granted. That doesn't mean I dropped the ball at work, but I began to develop this dread. This sensation of barbed hooks dragging me down into this dark place of self-loathing and pity. God it felt sickening. It's like you are the protagonist in your own story and then suddenly you become some background character that no one seems know the name of.
The things that I loved seemed to become a little clouded. I started to lose focus and not pay attention to the things that matter most. Whether it be my relationships, my running, and even my self image. I was keeping busy; applying for jobs, going to work, and living my life.
One day it hit me...
Not like a friendly pat on the back. Quite the opposite in fact. It was more like the moment you fall on a downhill; and know you are going feet over ass.
I was the problem... (Believe me it stung)
I had adopted a very negative outlook because things weren't going the way I planned. A key lesson you would have thought my Grandfather had instilled; "Nothing, and I mean nothing ever goes just the way you plan." So when that great life lesson/epiphany finally came over me I decided to go about things differently. Here was my one and only guideline.
Be Grateful.....
With this in mind things slowly began to improve. My only goal was be a little bit better than I was the day before. Sure enough a change came. I began adopting a more healthy attitude about life and where I stood in the world. Believe me, it isn't easy. Everyday is a challenge in self-improvement.
I personally found this to be the guiding light when I interviewed with New Balance. I want to work for a running shoe brand. Sitting in their lobby was that self-affirming moment that I was moving in the right direction. During my interview I was just so happy to finally be talking to a brand like New Balance. It helped me realize that I was going to be okay. Unfortunately while I didn't get the position I am just happy to have got to talk to someone about a future in the industry.
At the end of the day a change in perspective will change the lens in which you view life. Sometimes you have this idea of how things are supposed to be and are blinded by what's going on around you. While I didn't plan on being where I am currently I know in the scheme of things I'm just where I need to be. With that warm and fuzzy thought instilled;
Go out into the world, not hollow, but with room to embrace all the opportunities that may come your way..
- A Gentleman Of The Road
PS: I wanted to have the title sound like "The Hunt For The Red October".....