I was driving a friend to dinner a few years ago as he was talking on the phone with his brother. He was practically yelling at him to get his act together. Paraphrasing, he said: “You’re a college graduate and you’ve had five jobs in four years. Why don’t you stick something out a while and commit to working your tail off.” He wanted his brother to work harder.
Within 10 minutes of hanging up with his brother, he started preaching to me about how I work too much. “You’ve got to stop working so hard Peterson. Seriously, you can’t possibly enjoy all the travel you’re doing and the hours you’re putting in.” (The truth was that I was having a blast at work.) My friend wanted me to work less.
These two monologues delivered within the same half hour by the same person made me realize something about my friend and most people in society: everyone wants mediocrity. Your mom doesn’t want you to be unsafe. Your husband doesn’t want you to risk getting your feelings hurt. Your best friend wants you to get off your butt and get a job. If you don’t watch it, you’ll wake up in 40 years and reflect on an average life. Life is about adventure and risk and stretching your boundaries – that’s where life is. It’s not sitting in the land of security.
Choose to write your own story and live that life. Be resilient and strong against society and mediocrity. If the story you’ve written is to work a little harder or start a business or work a little less, then do it. Don’t blindly listen to your loved ones or society. Listen to your adventurous self – the one writing your story. Listen and move forward with passion and courage… and whatever you do, be strong and don’t let that vacuum suck you in!
