A life worth living, is a life worth living towards it’s full potential.
In the Spring of 2011, I realized something was missing in my life. My wife and I were newly married, and things were great on that front. It was my day-to-day job that was bringing me down. The lack of purpose and fulfillment was eating at me constantly. There had to be something more to life I kept telling myself.
I did an assignment that a 6-year old may be asked to do. I sat down at my kitchen table with a pen and a notebook and jotted down the question: What Are the Things in Life that Bring You Happiness?
Here was my list...in simplest terms as only a 6-year old would do.
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Family
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Sports
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Cooking
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Working Out
From there my goal was to determine which of these I could turn into somewhat of a career. Someone once told me that if you love your work, it rarely feels like work. I decided to choose the topic I knew the least about; at least technically - Cooking; or Culinary as I would soon find out. Entering the Culinary world, I felt, gave me the best chance of developing a new career as well as allowing me to express my creativity. I told myself that if I was going to jump into something unknown, I was going to go all in. Culinary school became my nighttime routine after leaving my corporate job each day. I was dipping my toe in the water while still collecting paychecks. I finally knew the direction I wanted my life to be headed, but I seemingly needed a final push by someone, or something.
This push came on the morning of October 18, 2011 @ 9:30am. A call came from my co-worker as I was on my way into work. A meeting had been scheduled between my boss and myself, my co-worker told me. My boss was was waiting for me. As I reached my desk to set my stuff down, there was an uneasy feeling inside of me. I could tell something was about to happen. A few moments later I would learn that my position was being terminated. I was pushed off the cliff. It was time to Take Flyt.
Where I would be if that push never came, who knows? My wife and I were pregnant with our first child at the time. There were tears from my co-workers. They couldn’t understand why a company would do that to an expectant family. There were no tears on my part. I was filled with such great relief and excitement of the opportunity I had to do something where I could be my authentic self and pour my energy into it every day.
Fast forward 13 years, and thinking about the doors that have opened after Taking Flyt into that unknown world in 2011. The people you meet. The anxiety. The skills you learn. The challenges. The happiness you create. The self-doubt. The support. The loneliness. Every moment is a learned experience. You can’t change it. You can only appreciate it happened.
Today is a new day. Today we Take Flyt.
Is full potential ever reached? Or is it more about the journey we’re on towards being the best version of ourselves?
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-Ryan @ Take Flyt
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