More Work

“There will always be more work to do,” said professor George McCloud, “but you won’t always have more time to do it.”

Dr. McCloud taught me this as an college upperclassman, and by the time I got closer to graduation, I thought I’d have my life figured out. The exact opposite was true.  I was more anxious than ever.

“Where are you going to work? Where are you going to live? You’ve had a girlfriend for four years and are still not ready for marriage. What are you going to do?” were all questions that bubbled up I hadn’t expected before.

I pulled into my parent's driveway and thought about what McCloud said. The 40 years of work, the mortgage payments, and marriage would come and keep coming regardless of whether I was stressed or not. But the time I have to embrace life and experience it  becomes less and less each day.

So I decided to clean up my car and through everything not attached to it in the garbage. It was a symbolic move for me to let go and move on.

I’ve been stressed out many times since then. But I catch myself when I feel overwhelmed and remind myself that both stressful situations and the times in-between won’t last.

So I show up, contribute, and observe while I can.

College degrees and job opportunities are the carrots on the stick that keep us running. The finish line is a mirage that moves further away the closer you get to it.

Enjoy the ride while you can. Don’t let the stress of overdue bills, missed deadlines, or unpreparedness become counterproductive.

Let pressure be the thing that forces you to grow.  Learn from the good and bad. Do better next time. And understand that one day there won’t be a next time.