Choices and Consequences
You’re always one decision away from either having a Life of Triumph, or a Life of Tragedy.
When I decided to turn down the offer of elopment when I was 19, it may be possible that it was the only offer of marriage I’d ever get. 23 years later, I’ve accepted that this may be the lifetime that I shall remain single.
When I decided to keep my son when I got pregnant out of wedlock at 24 and stubbornly insisted on not getting married or even attempting to demand financial support from the father, I may have sacrificed the “best of my 20s” in terms of linear professional growth or typical “privileged” experiences. I know now that becoming a Mom has kept me “in-line” and though I’d often fantasize about having a daughter with bright, smiling eyes, pink cheeks, and a british accent, motherhood made me realize that I may be bad at it so I may have to stick to having one child (That, or dote on my family or close friends’ little girls).
When I decided to move out of my Mom’s house to be fully independent, my family initially perceived it as an “abandonment” of daughterly duty. As it turned out, it has prepared me to run my own household with all the obligations and responsibilities it entails without being married or beholden to anyone.
When I decided to leave the last Company I worked for without another job to transfer to, it was because I knew “I’ve had it” and by that I mean, my personal principles weren’t aligned with the business’ practices and most importantly, I was deathly bored of it all. I also knew that may be the last time I’d choose to work in the Beauty and/or Fashion Retail Industry at that capacity unless I was offered a role that would challenge me to perform above and beyond whilst being compensated justly for it.
Whenever I decide to resign from a company or change industries altogether, I know that doing so may not bode well on some employer’s impression of me and true enough, hiring managers see that on my CV and their pre-conceived notions affect my hire-ability. Despite that, I risk it. Also, over time, I’ve grown to know my worth. Low-balling is unacceptable to me and I refuse to be undervalued. Anyway, I often end up in a role that equips me enough to build up the skills for the next role, in some sense. Like stepping stones to a summit of some kind.
When I decided to take a chance on holding out for a company whose owner took a chance on offering me a big position in a pioneering company wherein I can totally “flex” my God-given abilities in an industry that I can see will have a major role to play in the energy and sustainability space, my intuition informs me that I can devote 3 years of my life to it, at a minimum. For now, I am waiting for the rock to start rolling. Sometimes, I can feel my patience wearing thin and the pangs of anxiety creeping in. I’m living off my savings on this investment and I may go a bit broke. I’m acutely aware of the prospect of “poverty” and yet I’m enlivened by the potential of prosperity. Regardless, I tend to operate well in a state of desperation anyway. It is my faith that sustains me.
This choice may very well result to one of two consequences: Either it is going to be a spectacular failure or an epic success.
Like I said, you’re always one decision away from tragedy or triumph. Ultimately, you have to live with the choice you make and accept its consequences.
