Home, progression and comfort zones

Home!

We all miss home, we talk about how things are different at home, we reminisce on things from home, we talk about how we can’t wait to go home, but given the opportunity to go tomorrow, very few, if anyone at all, would accept.

I’ve never lived away from home before, never been too far where I can’t go back either so believe me coming out here was a shock to the system. The guarantee of a fridge full of food, constant company and comfort were voluntarily exchanged for sleeping in single beds on an empty stomach and surrounded by dysfunction in every sense. Not to mention emerging into a new country, culture, new set of rules and in the middle of a political debacle all of which was a challenge of its own.

With that said I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat with suspense, waiting for me to scribe an endless list of positive points and experiences that make it all worth it. To be completely honest with you, it’s very easy to forget all the great things that have come out of this experience when the day to day struggle of work is like a thick layer of fog over a beautiful sunrise. But on your days off when that fog clears and you can enjoy trips across Florida’s many attractions, days laying on a beach of your choice, hold up on a balcony bar enjoying happy hour or simply binging Netflix on your personal veranda the trials and tribulations become distant memories.

But and a very big BUT at that, let us be reminded that it is said trials and tribulations that make us. I used the phrase ‘set fire to my comfort zone’ way back in one of my first blog entries and the same still applies. It would have been easy for me to do an internship in London, stay at home with my friends, family and full fridge close by but what would I have gained or learnt from an environment that provides comfort and reassurance?

The answer in my most humble opinion is nothing, you spend the first 9 to 11 months of your life on your mother hip but its only when she stands you up, let’s go and steps back that you then progress and learn to walk, 23 years later not much is different. The stakes are higher; the development is more advance but none of which can be accomplished holding my mother’s hand.

Being here, being alone I’ve learnt so much about myself in just 7 months, believe me I hate all that generic hippy BS about ‘oh I’m going travelling to find myself’. But there is an element of truth to the statement, it wasn’t my intention but it is what has happened. You realise and gain clarity on what you want for yourself, what your willing to put up with and that you are indeed more capable and flexible than you thought.

In terms of work and career perspective, just your presence in America alone enhances your job prospective, I can only imagine because I’m still here, but I’m very confident that heading home and finding a job role in a position with more responsibility will be less of challenge with international experience and half my degree complete. Depending on your career plans, for me personally my motivation to continue working toward self-employment is at an all-time high.

This experience has definitely cracked open a part of myself I wasn’t aware existed, it’s been character building and breaking and believe me the struggles have been real. But I know for me personally I wouldn’t have achieved as much staying home.

 

Progress always involves risk; you can’t progress to second base and also keep your foot on first.”

– Christie mason