happens in the space between
in between jobs
in between lovers
in between homes
in between thoughts
in between destinations
Because in between is where endings happen and new beginnings take shape.
Unknowns give birth to opportunity.
Most of us crave stability. Financial stability, romantic stability, even mental stability. But those of us who have known long periods of actual stability eventually come to see it as a time of stagnation.
“To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest.” — Sterling Hayden
While it’s true that trying to live a life or raise a child in an environment of uncertainty is difficult, the rewards can be monumental. Children grow up with a sense of independence. They learn not to count on others for anything. They also often carry around a bit of a chip on their shoulders. A disappointment in their parents. For not giving them the things other kids got.
Look at them later in life, though. They often succeed where their parents failed. They achieve things their parents never even dreamed of attempting. It’s hard to see the gift their parents gave them, but it was a gift nonetheless.
Death and divorce can be the same sort of gift. To a child or a spouse. All the stability of life is ripped away. What’s exposed is the raw opportunity the universe has always been offering. As so often happens in life the opportunity isn’t really a choice. You must go boldly into the void or perish.
Going off to school, taking a new job, entering a new relationship, starting a business. These are all examples of making a conscious choice to embrace the unknown. I would argue that those of us who don’t consciously make decisions to accept the challenge will be forced into it, sooner or later. We’ll be given the gift of a death, divorce or some other calamity that we never saw coming.
It’s almost like we’re all here for the adventure. And if we don’t get on board something is going to force us to make the trip anyway.
You have a choice, choose to embrace the journey or have someone, or something, make the choice for you.
Thank you for reading.
