From Shoes to Spreadsheets: Embracing the Unexpected

I first encountered The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane while watching My Love from the Star. That brief scene sparked my curiosity, and diving into Edward’s story, I found an unexpected kinship. Revisiting it recently, I was reminded of the transformative power in embracing paths we don’t plan.

A porcelain rabbit named Edward Tulane starts his adventure full of conceit and clings to his familiarity. However, after being uprooted from his owner and placed in strange environments, he starts to transform. He experiences love, loss, and resiliency in the care of strangers, delving into depths he was unaware existed.

My journey started much the same way. At the age of 18, I began working as a clerk at SM Department Store, selling shoes and having little idea where my life would take me. My path involved switching between positions and industries, each with its own set of difficulties that challenged me. I was constantly adapting and learning. I picked up new skills, met incredible people from all walks of life, and grew in ways I couldn’t have foreseen. Every change I made, from retail to corporate, taught me something new: the value of resilience, adaptation, and growth beyond familiarity.

Now that I run Spreadsheet Magic, I find myself in unexpected situations, particularly as a trainer, which is not a job I ever saw myself in. My work has taken on unexpected significance as a result of teaching others; each obstacle has challenged and inspired me in ways I never would have imagined.

Like Edward, I've come to realize that real growth takes place in those uncertain territories devoid of comfort. Every chapter has shown to me the value of lifelong learning and the ever-evolving purpose that is just beyond the known.

So, what journey are you holding back from—waiting to embrace? Maybe it's time to step into the unknown and see where it leads.