Stretch
Technology startups have been the spinach for my career, Popeye. The cutting-edge innovation, big world problems, and frenetic energy are intoxicating. I love finding creative solutions to complex issues, and Silicon Valley is riddled with ideas yet to be. While maneuvering through such a male-dominated landscape came with challenges, I found my way—or maybe my way found me. It has been an exhilarating ride.
Last year, I decided to take a much-needed break. While early-stage companies are exciting, they are also grueling and not always the most soul-nourishing of environments. I also knew my writing had been on pause for far too long. It was time to refresh and reconnect.
"The greatest thing in the world is not so where we stand as in what direction we are moving."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The off-ramp from any high-octane endeavor, I imagine, is always a process; nervous energy rules the first few weeks (okay, months) as I uncoil the spin. Luckily, a big construction project softened the unwind and the 'what am I doing' angst. I welcomed the distraction. Adding something new to my rinse-and-repeat life would be a welcome stretch—something outside my comfort zone. Growth lives in the uncomfortable, right?
Let's just say I underestimated the stretch. Building a guesthouse in my backyard challenged every cell of my confidence. The closest I've ever come to a panic attack was when four cement trucks pulled up in front of my house, one after the other, agitating entire mixer loads of cement into my backyard. The fear of knowing there was no going back had me summoning every meditative breathing pattern I could remember.
As a woman doing this on my own, I felt this unexpected vulnerability—something the months of “how to build an ADU” Google deep dives failed to mention. The expenditure was the most significant investment I had ever made, and it didn't help that every person I ran into shared their contractor horror stories, further cementing my angst (definite pun intended). My typical chill self was swirling in the fear of the unknown.
As time progressed and my energy rebalanced, the year became rich with all the feels: new adventures, stress, loneliness, fun, fear, delicious reading and podcast binges, excitement, boredom, deep contemplation, peaceful resignation, and amazing new coaching clients. It was a year that forced me to re-evaluate my comfortable Groundhog's Day existence in new and wildly uncomfortable ways. It was an incredible ride, and while I'm not yet exactly sure where I'll land, I know I'm forever changed.
Today's prompt: Are there areas in your life where you feel stagnant? Grab your journal and explore what feels stalled. Identify things you could do to push forward. Maybe you’re simply feeling the need to shake things up. Pick one area and activate it over the next week. Write about what came up for you. How did it feel going outside your comfort zone? Feel free to share with the SaturdaySays… tribe or keep it close. It’s yours to explore.
SaturdaySays… aims to help you reconnect to the light that lives within. Whether revisiting, refreshing, rewriting, or simply reveling in its wonder, we all deserve to celebrate the extraordinary gifts we bring to the global collective. This journey is precious, and SaturdaySays gently invites you to take a moment and rediscover yourself. It's time to let the best of you, shine.