Picture this. It was August and I had just finished moving everything into my freshman dorm room. It was a busy day. Parents were hugging their kids before leaving them with their new lives as if holding on to them just a little bit longer would take some of the stings out of that moment. I gave my mom one last hug and I turned to walk into my dorm. The whole time, I was telling myself, "Don't look back. Don't look back." I was literally making the transition from a world of security and familiarity to one of uncertainty. I knew if I turned around and saw my mom standing there, beaming with pride, my heart would break just a little and I wouldn't be able to face my future. So I kept walking. "Don't look back. Don't look back." And I didn't.
Transition periods can be some of the scariest in our lives. It's leaving behind everything we knew and facing the uncertainty of our future. Whether it be the transition from one job to another, high school to college, single to engaged, or even from friend group to friend group, you are leaving something you once knew in hopes of a better future. It is so easy to get comfortable where we are. People hate change. At least, I do. But change is necessary because there's a danger in getting too comfortable. Our pursuit of success stalls when we get too comfortable.
And because of this, we sometimes sacrifice our potential happiness for familiarity.
When faced with change, I tend to shy away from it. For example, the thought of going from high school to college terrified me. I stayed up at night wondering "What if I get lost on campus?" or "What if I can't figure out the laundry machines there?" Among many other concerns, I nearly worried myself sick. But here's the funny part: I did get lost on campus a couple times (including yesterday). And I did shrink my favorite dress in the dryer. But you know what? I was growing. I was learning. And most importantly, I was doing it on my own.
I say all this to tell you that it's easy to get comfortable where we are. If you are thinking to yourself that it would just be easier to stay in your current position, you are right. It would be significantly easier. But where we are comfortable, we aren't growing. Don't sell yourself short. There are beautiful, fulfilling things waiting for you just ahead. So if you're telling yourself "Don't look back. Don't look back," you're already on the right track. Keep looking forward, the best is yet to come.
