When my daughter was young, we learned REAL fast her love for roller coasters. With one. exception.
No loop-de-loops.
None
Put her near a coaster with a loop-de-loop and that fierceness with which she tackles any other challenge in her life takes a big step back. She’s perfectly happy to let everyone ride that coaster. Give her $10 bucks because she’s getting ice cream.
Yes… $10. It’s an amusement park, remember? 🙄
A few years ago we were enjoying a day of roller coasters and over-priced cotton candy, when we got in line for a new coaster we’d not experienced yet. The line was particularly long but we weren’t deterred. As we waited, I remember how fun it was just hanging out with my teen & preteen, laughing and joking around. Though we’ve always had a pretty good dynamic on the daily, moments like these are highlights for me that I don’t just love my kids… I really LIKE them.
As we progressed forward in line, I look up to see the first thrill of the ride is a giant loop-de-loop!
ALL the questions flood my mind.
“Why didn’t I see that before we got in line? Did J see it? We’re so close to the front, do I say anything? Do I coach her through it or just let her walk back down the mile of steps we’d just spent 30 minutes inching our way up?”
I chose to do what any good mom would do.
I didn’t say word. Not. One.
The may be a point of trauma she’ll pay her therapist for one day. But today, she’s going to face this fear.
We sat strapped in the coaster car excited with anticipation waiting for the ride to begin when J looked ahead and saw the loop.
Her face flushed as it registered in her brain. Strapped into that harness, the panic is all over her face. I start coaching her through it.
“Just breathe, J. You can do this. Just breathe. I’m with you the whole time.”
To her credit, she didn’t beg to get out. Didn’t insist on getting off the ride.
She grabbed the handles, nodded her head and stared straight ahead.
There was more than one loop on this ride. I knew that too. But again… J was on a ‘need to know’ basis. And at this point, she didn’t need to know that.
As we exited the first loop J gritted her teeth and white-knuckled the harness handles. I looked over and gave her the best advice I had in the moment.
“Scream through it, J. If you scream, it helps.”
That chick screamed through every single turn, curve and loop. Every. Single. One.
By the end of the ride, my ears were ringing. I looked over at J as the cart came to a halt. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“Do you want to go again?”, I asked.
Something equivalent to ‘HALE No!’ burst out of her.
She conquered that fear. That was enough. She wasn’t interested in repeating the moment. 😂
This career change has been a little bit of a wild ride, for me. Twists, turns, and even a few loop-de-loops. But, there are a few key attributes I continue to hold to on this coaster. Attributes to help ensure I end up with a job that’s a great fit. One that holds promise to draw out the qualities I have to offer. One that offers space, time and resources to amplify the skill set I bring to the table.
With each unexpected turn and switchback, I’ve fought to white-knuckle these qualities no matter what this ride has to offer:
- Positive Attitude: Let’s face it, job searching can be a real buzzkill sometimes. Rejection emails pile up faster than dirty dishes in my college dorm. But, I can’t give in to despair. A positive outlook seems critical, even if it feels like the universe is conspiring against me. I choose to think of each rejection as one step closer to the right opportunity. My glass isn’t just half-full… it’s overflowing and doesn’t have room for rejection emails. (the jerks)
- Persistence: This process has worked my stick-to-it muscle more than anticipated. If you know me at all, you know I can be a pretty stubborn individual. Yet the willingness to take every single step necessary to help get my foot in the door can get a little mundane. I’m close to gamifying my magical spreadsheet just to keep it engaging. Let’s face it… if I could afford it, I’d reward myself with a new pair of shoes every time I land an interview. Buuuuuut… that budget does not exist. (Unless someone is willing to start a go-fund-me. I would not complain.)
- Flexibility: The job I land may not be the job I set out to get. I can be doggedly determined… but I can also be strategic and excited to land a job that gets me closer to my goal. I’ve been on the kiddie-coaster before. There are still engaging twists and turns to enjoy.
I knew the job search might be hard. Though I’ve never had to pursue a career change at this level before, I knew enough to know it would come with challenges. But knowing and experiencing are very different. This experience is a wild ride with a few loop-de-loops I didn’t anticipate until I was already strapped in the cart. But I’m learning to scream through the loops and enjoy the challenge for all it offers.
And, if all else fails, I can always open a lemonade stand or start a TikTok dance craze. Cuz’ that comes with great benefits, right? 🤣
