"Well I've Had So Many Jobs...."

Recently, I treated myself to a facial after years of not having one. It was glorious. Despite it's relaxing and oh so wonderful experience, sitting still and trying to relax creates an agonizing need for my ADHD brain to go SOMEWHERE, anywhere. So I asked the esthetician if she had "a story" she was walking my face through that might keep my mind on the goops, globs, swipes and zaps on my face, rather than the to-do list looming on the front seat of my car. This truly was my best effort to remain present and not wonder into task-related tail spins down the "should be - could be" rabbit trails tempting to negate my relaxation efforts.

During my attentiveness to her regimen and my unsolicited probing for her reasoning behind the steps, my mind hit career progression territory without even a speed bump of hesitation. Why did she became an esthetician and how on earth does she have pharmacy and other medical related education in her background? I knew I needed to dial it back and return to the relax-and-stay-present mode, but my mouth speedily and emphatically spouted off "so what is your big goal?! where do you want to take all this great knowledge?" I was hyped and ready hear all about the next steps in her career endeavors and why her experience connects beautifully with her goals of x, y, and z. My brain was in service mode and I was officially working during my facial session. Unfortunately the hype I felt prior to her answer and the thud of my heart afterward took me for a common and not so relaxing loop. She began with an answer common to most everyone I have ever worked with:

Well, I've had so many jobs that I'm not sure what I'm going to do... or even able to do."

It broke my heart. Someone who was doing such great work and service to my own well being did not even see how her education and experience tied together and added significant value to her own paying clients. The heaviness and weight of her de-valuing statement and my grief for her feeling of confusion was real. We began "the discussion." I asked if I could share what I heard in her experience and how I see her journey woven, so that she could confirm or reject my perception in hopes that she may find that momentum has begun in a way she is not yet aware of. She agreed.

After I shared the story and possibilities I heard within her young adult journey, she nodded with relief. She articulated that although she had felt the various experiences had absolutely no connection, she now realized they have the potential to be more useful to one another than she'd ever thought. My vision was not exactly where she may go in life, but she confirmed that the validation and hope that was brought about in our exchange will allow her to see her experience as valuable, meaningful, and worth leveraging and stop discounting her journey's worth.

A perspective shift on the same situation and variables is sometimes all we need to gain insight, momentum, and rejuvenated strength for the steps ahead.

The differences in our footsteps is the beauty that brings us together in complimentary and creative ways. #tellyourstory #sharethejoy #crystalcnvrstns