I enjoy being uncomfortable.
In my 18 years on this Earth, the times when I’ve done my best work, whether it be in my writing, personal life or school work, happened when I was extremely uncomfortable with where I was or what I was doing.
Some of my heaviest poetry came out of my first heartbreak. I got a promotion at work because I almost got fired and that lit a fire under my butt to get over my nerves of balancing a job and school and really excel at both of them.
During these times, I remember being completely overwhelmed, anxious and terrified of what was going to come next. I couldn’t believe I put myself in that position, and I desperately needed a way out.
By focusing on my writing, it gave me an outlet for everything that I was feeling during that time, and it became my crutch for putting whatever I felt out into the world without stirring things up too much.
Currently, I have yet to write a piece of poetry about my current situation that I’m truly comfortable with putting my name on, and whenever I go to work, I feel like I do the same thing every single shift.
I know exactly what my problem is: I’m too comfortable.
I used to have to push myself every day to deliver and work toward my goals, but right now, I’m just waiting for graduation and move-in day to get here so I can start a new journey.
If my life were a movie, this is the part that they leave out because it doesn’t help at all with character or plot development.
Often, in movies, they montage this part because if they showed it in real time, everyone would get bored and leave or start throwing their snacks at the screen because of how BORING it is.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that my story is not over. Don’t just accept your fate. Things will happen in due course.
I know there are problems that I’m going to face that I’m just not equipped to handle at the moment. I’m comfortable where I am. That’s why I need to get out.
Adapting is half of the journey, and that’s where all of the best lessons come from.
It’s not an uncommon thought. Anyone who has ever done anything worth remembering stepped out of their comfort zone at one point or another to get to where they are, it’s just how the world works.
If I’m being honest, moving to New York is one of the scariest things I’ll ever do. I’ll be hours away from my family, and I know I’m not going to know anybody going into college.
That’s why I have to do it.
When I get there, it’s either sink or swim, and the former has never been an option in my book.
When you have no choice but to do better and move forward where you are, your life improves a lot faster.
Until then, you’re just sitting around and waiting for opportunities that could come a lot faster if you went out and chased them.
Go switch jobs. Move to a new town. Change your major. Don’t get dragged down by the “what ifs.”
I promise, it’ll be hard at first. But everything will be worth it eventually.