I was sitting out at the park just trying to relax from a challenging day. I was there, sitting on a swing, gently swaying back and forth, as I watched as two sweet girls and their dad play on the playground. One of the girls had climbed to the top and slid down the fire pole, sliding down to the ground, and then immediately climbing back up to do it again and again. The other girl wanted to do as her sister was doing, but was afraid, and even started to cry.
Photo taken at The Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio, TX
Her dad got her to climb up to the top, going with her, and when they got to the ledge, she began to really cry. She backed away from the ledge, no longer wanting to slide down that pole. You could see and hear the fear grow as she continued to cry and the cry getting louder. She decided to sit down on the ledge, her dad right behind her, and her sister down below. She grabbed onto the pole and slower inched her way off the ledge, with her father holding her from behind. There was still very visible fear, but she took the leap and slid down the pole. When she got to the ground, she no longer was in tears, but excited and climbed back to the top to try it once more. She had to take that leap in order to find the excitement. Similarly, we have to do that in our own everyday lives. Personally, I had to take that leap to move and get a fresh start in a new town, not even close to what I grew up and knew my whole life. In the transition, in searching for a new career and job, I knew I wanted to get out of geriatrics, and I really wanted to help those in mental health. In my own journey of being in and out of treatment, the staff who have been the biggest help and had the most impact on me were ones who also struggled mentally in some sort. With the help I've received, I wanted to be able to help others in their time of need and have the chance to make an impact on their life and their journey to healing. Now yes, I had to take the leap to even look into that field, but the biggest leap I took was putting in a specific application. It was for an adolescent residential treatment facility, but it was through the same company I had just finished my own treatment at, Innova. Although it was a different program within the same company, I was still hesitant and anxious to even apply being I had just graduated from Innova Grace right about a month before. I had many people encouraging me to apply, saying I would be great at it and that I would never know if I didn't try. So, I convinced myself to go forward and put in the application. I received a call the day after I applied to set up an interview for the following day. I went to the interview, scared yet excited. I went to leave the interview and was told I would receive a call later that day or the next day. When I was not even fifteen minutes down the road, the supervisor's name popped up on my caller ID. He told me later in the day, so to see his name so soon, I got scared. I didn't have an excuse to not answer, so I did, and it was actually good. He wanted to move forward in the hiring process. Fast forward to now, I've been there for a few weeks, and I love it. Yes, there are hard moments and have been some challenging shifts, but I feel so rewarded. I have been able to be there for the clients and help them as I am able. If I had not taken that leap, who knows where I would be working at right now. Who knows if I would be feeling rewarded for what I would be doing right now if I had not applied. I had to take the leap, and just like that little girl on the playground fearful of the fire pole, we both took the leap and found happiness. Is it always going to be easy? No. Is it always going to be easy? No. Am I always going to feel rewarded? Not necessarily, but in the short time I have already been there, I've already experienced some tough moments. I've already experienced unenjoyable times, but would I change my choice in job? No. Through the challenges, I will continue to grow, be able to learn and better help and handle future situations and clients, and I will feel rewarded and find happiness. So, what is the thing in your life that seems to be that "big leap" right now? I challenge you today to take that leap. As it has been told to me before, you will never know unless you try. Take that leap. It might be one of the greatest things to happen and you might be forever grateful for that decision. So, take that leap.
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