Perpetually in Transition?
Several months have passed since my last post. I’ve settled down in Helsinki, working to get The Hub Helsinki up and running. I had some time to reflect on my experience at a recent meet-up with great friends in The Netherlands.
The Stories We Tell
During the meeting we found ourselves amused at how each of us had a tendency to repeat the same story whenever we met. For some people it was about letting go, for others about stepping up. Me, I noticed that the story I repeat involves being in transition.
In a way this is an easy story for me to justify. During the past five years, I’ve switched cities five times, countries thrice, and jobs four times. And I’m not planning on settling down yet. So I suppose it’s only natural to feel that I’m in transition. Constantly.
What’s Behind the Restlessness?
I can’t help but to ask myself what’s what’s causing this restlessness? Partly it’s certainly a positive drive to experience and see the world while I’m still without a family or a stable job.
But I’m starting to suspect that partly it’s a lingering fear of the uncertain. So far the path has been laid out in front of me—school, university, AIESEC, etc.—but all of a sudden there’s no clear next step.
Sitting in the Fire
As I become aware of the fear and stop running away from it, an interesting alchemy starts to take place. When I name and own the fear, the fear becomes excitement. Instead of running away from it, I turn to the storm and hear the wind whisper what the future holds. For now I will just sit with it.
