Just to find out what's on the other side

Thinking back to the day I got my college acceptance letter puts a smile on my face. It was a day of relief, but it was mostly a thrill, imagining the catapult from my hometown into a big city with restaurants and museums and a sea of other searching students. Of all the years that have opened doors, that was a big one. It seemed like the world would only keep getting wider.

17 years later, I was asked the question, “When you think about what type of workplace environment you most enjoy, do you prefer consistency or dynamic change? Indicate your preference on a scale of 1 to 10 in which 1 is consistency and 10 is dynamic change.”

It’s the kind of question where you know the right answer is a 10 for dynamic change, but if forced to answer truthfully, it’s a 1 for consistency. The days of pulling up stakes on a whim are gone by and the days of calendar invites and meal prepping are in full effect. Back then, adventure was just stepping onto the school bus. Nowadays, you have to make a reservation.

Everyone settles down—the advantages are numerous—but think back to that day you opened your letter or another time the feeling of not knowing what comes next filled you only with optimism. Now think about the most recent time you’ve felt it. It’s rare these days—nearly extinct, I’d venture—but it’s still out there, and that’s a feeling worth looking for, a feeling that smiles conspiratorially back at you and says I’ll keep going if you will. I’ll open that door just to find out what’s on the other side.