You’re making a mistake.
This time, it wasn’t subtle, or a suggestion. I heard it loud and clear.
A couple of years ago, I sat my parents down and told them about my intention to sell my practice. I wanted to do other things, and when the time was right, or should I say, better than right away, I was going to do it.
Make the mistake, I mean.
It was a classic parental response, maybe one you’ve heard too. Protecting the cub and all that. An understandable, if predictable response.
It was also one more step creating distance between us. Distance, and difference. After all, it wasn’t the first time I had strayed from the beaten path.
What it did was fan the fears deep inside me, because of course big decisions don’t come in a neatly tied package. Their words were merely polite echoes of thoughts that kept me up at night.
It’s scary to want things different from what others want for you. It’s scary to walk the path they were sure would be perfect and secure, only to find that it feels wrong. It didn’t matter how long and hard you thought about it, or many safety nets you put in place, it was not on the plan.
There was no mistake in the look in their eyes; I had betrayed them and all they had worked for, and broken an unspoken pact.
Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, it’s terrifying. And if comfort at the cost of happiness, curiosity and seeing what more there is to life was my goal, I would’ve stayed where I was. I would’ve then continued turning my back on choices I’m lucky enough to have but silly enough to ignore, because I get that not everyone gets to have them.
Sometimes you change the little things. Sometimes you change the big things.
Everyone makes mistakes.
And sometimes, staying comfortable is one of them.
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