So, in two months, I will most likely be unemployed and in a foreign country. I quit a job that, other than the usual complaints (demanding boss, too much work, too little pay, etc), isn’t really that bad. I have a decent apartment, a newish car, and a good group of friends here. Why would I up and move to a foreign country with no job and plenty of bureaucratic, linguistic, and professional barriers in place to keep me from finding one? Since I have to sell, parcel out, and move all of my earthly belongings, and then dive into the unknown, am I not risking a whole lot? Aren’t the stakes ridiculously high here?
Yes. The stakes are incredibly high.
If you watched The Office last week, you may remember the dilemma facing the awkward characters in that great show. The people who work in one of the offices featured in the show thought for a while that the office was going to be closed. After it was revealed that their office would not, in fact, be closed, one of the characters said something to the effect of
"Wow. So much for moving to Costa Rica and learning how to surf. I guess that there will be plenty of time for Costa Rica…..when I’m 60."
This is precisely why there is so much at stake. It will always be easy to stay where it’s comfortable. Complacency is never difficult. I have never lived more than 10 miles away from I-35. Trust me, it’s not difficult.
I may fail at this. I may get down there, completely freak out, not learn the language, not get a job, and have to come right back. That is a very real possibility. I’m trying very hard to prevent that from being the case, but I know that it is certainly well within the realm of possibility. It may even constitute a great majority of that realm.
What I do know is that at 24, I don’t need to spend more than two years at this job. If Argentina isn’t right, at least it’s not wrong. Staying in Dallas is easy. Staying in Dallas would be wrong.
The stakes are incredibly high here because if I don’t get the heck outta Dodge, I just might become Festus. (I love a good Gunsmoke reference) As funny as he may be, nobody wants to be Festus.
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2 comments:
You are so far away from Festus. Argentina may cure ailments you don't even know you have and strengthen you in ways that Dallas, I35, and your comfort zone never could. . . .
And, if we're both wrong, there's always the beef, the wine, and the scenery that makes it all beautiful.
Life IS the adventure you are looking for. This isn't the first step, or the last. Enjoy!!!
Who's Festus? HAHA! sorry couldn't resist.
okay, so you're right. i never realized that you have lived near that 150 mile stretch of i35 for almost 24 years. amazing. and completely ridiculous.
you are a champ and in order to win at life sometimes you have to take some risks and do a little gambling. but you're not gambling on the luck of the draw. you are betting on you- and you are smart, talented, and extremely capable of more than i think you or anyone else has even realized yet. you are ready for this and I am so proud you are taking that leap. You are no gamble, love, you are a sure thing.
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