You Belong In The Deep-End: The Trick To Living A Fuller Life Is Acting Before You Think
I’ve been reflecting on the month I’ve spent away from home, doing an internship abroad.
I’ll let you in on a secret.
I almost didn’t go, because I didn’t have to.
Yes, it was going to be a new experience.
One rich in difference, both culturally and practically.
But,
I had no idea what it had in store for me.
What I could learn,
What I could see,
Who I could meet,
Progress I could make,
Nothing.
I was diving right in the deep-end,
That however, was a month ago,
And I’ve learnt immeasurably more than I ever could’ve imagined,
If I could turn back time and do it again, I would.
I was so foolish to almost stop myself.
So this is a letter I wrote to myself, to prevent prediction from ruining transformation ever again.
Hey me,
You don’t know it all.
Nor do you know enough.
So stop trying to expect, predict, or gauge what you’ll learn from an experience.
JUST DO IT.
GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE IT.
EVEN IF IT’S RISKY.
EVEN IF YOU’RE UNSURE.
EVEN IF YOU KNOW NOTHING,
Just experience.
There’s a reason they say that experience is the best teacher,
Because it is.
True growth comes from throwing yourself in the deep end and soaking up the experience.
Every last drop.
Every last moment.
Every last opportunity.
Take it all in.
The moment you allow yourself to become teachable, every experience will become an opportunity.
And funnily enough, I’ve never enjoyed a month as much as this one.
Why?
Because I was surrounded by growth.
I had no choice but to learn,
To ask dumb questions.
To be curious,
To explore,
To be wrong,
To watch and learn from the more experienced,
I had no choice but to revel in the experience.
I had no choice but to choose growth over and over.
And it spilled uncontrollably into my everyday.
I’ve never been this productive in a month in the whole of my lifetime.
Why?
Because I was thrown in the deep-end.
But instead of sinking, I did more than learn to swim,
I found my home in the waters.
I belong in the deep-end.
And I’ll never make the mistake of running from it again.
LM
