How many times in our lives were we asked the question: what do you want to be when you grow up? I remember, as a plucky unabashed 5-year old, wanting to be either Whitney Houston (yes, I am a child of the 80s) or an astronaut. My dad, in his most supportive light and using humor, suggested I be a singing astronaut.
As I went through school, my lofty dreams shifted from early childhood aspirations, to being like Dana Scully – a forensic scientist – to realizing that my interests and strengths were not always congruous with one another. A couple decades, two degrees, and a whole lot of life experience later, here I am. A well-educated self-starter who has evolved – along with my career – into a strong communicator who connects with people and fosters stronger teams, and has a passion for health and safety. So now what?
I have to confess, I’m not entirely sure. Armed with knowing myself, my value, and my passions is great. But who should I share that with now? And what do I want to be, now that I’m grown up? Unemployed and faced with a world of uncertainty and vast possibilities, I wonder: what’s next?
The truest confession of this would-be singing astronaut, is that the uncertainty we face today is what scares me the most. A casualty of a rapidly declining industry and economy in the midst of a worldwide pandemic leaves all of us feeling as if we are on unsteady ground. Dwelling on this, though, is destructive and unproductive, says my inner vocal astronaut: it’s time to buck up!
So, after some self-reflection and deep thought (we all have extra time on our hands to do this, no?), I arrived here: the best way to navigate through the uncertainty I’m faced with is to remain authentic to who I am today. I can move forward and be anything I want to be, even though I am now grown up.
Drawing on my fierce independence and the grit that has carried me through numerous life challenges, I choose to approach the vast uncertainty through the eyes of the plucky 5 year old I was: whatever is next for me, I am open to it and I will strive for it. To quote a childhood idol “I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadow…” and, as my childhood self did, I will continue to reach for the stars.
So if any of this rings true for you, this is what I ask of you: dig deep within in yourself; challenge your childhood dreamer to help shape how you handle today. Staying true to who you are is the best way to take on today’s uncertainty.
Written by: Hayley York
