Ready isn't real

What is ready? What does it mean to be ready?

What would you say you were truly ready for when it hit you?

What weren’t you ready for?

In my life, these have been my most valuable experiences - the ones I wasn’t ready for.

I wasn’t ready to go to college - I went to college in Hawaii,  far away from my family and everything familiar. I know, you feel bad for me being alone in Hawaii, right :)  I cried when my parents dropped me off, even though I chose it.

I hated having to be responsible for all my meals, taking the bus everywhere, and doing my own laundry. But it was the best thing for me. If I wasn’t forced into this responsibility, I wouldn’t have learned time management skills I very much need today.

I am more efficient and effective today because I started practicing way back then. I’m thankful I dove into this experience head first even though I wasn’t ready for it.

I wasn’t ready to get married - I remember thinking on my wedding day “holy shit no one is going to stop me from doing this!” And so I did it. It felt like the most adult thing I had ever done. Shortly after getting hitched, my husband faced some adversity at work and potentially losing his job. And that’s when I realized what it really meant to be married - for better or worse, richer or poorer. I wasn’t sure I was ready for the crappier options in those vows. But this forced me to dive into partnership and powerfully show up for him when he really needed my support. And I’m so glad I did.

I wasn’t ready to start my business - I was fired from my job. Read more about that story here. I always knew I wanted to start my own business and practice, but I had a list of reasons why I wasn't ready... I was too young, too green, too inexperienced to be successful. So why even try?! I wasn't ready to fail, I wasn't ready to be that vulnerable. Well who is?!

I wasn’t ready to become a parent - Can you relate? If people waited until they were ready to have kids, this planet would be empty! 

This has been my most challenging endeavor to date. I have to show up as the best version of myself when I'm tired, have nothing left to give, and be fully present. What else calls you to perform at that level? 

Well, I wasn't ready for that level. And, arguably, I'm still not. But that doesn't stop me from giving my best day after day. When I look at how far I've come in the last 5 months and the things I've accomplished, I'm proud :)

I'm not ready to return to work - After 5 challenging and amazing months off, I'm headed back to work. Although I've prepared for this day, I'm not ready. 

I'm not ready to miss a "first" from my daughter, to be even more tired, or to feel like a "bad parent" by going back to work. But I am ready to honor that industrious and ambitious part of Me that loves my work!

Being ready isn't real. It's not something we wait for, because it never comes. 

It's when we push ahead, regardless of being ready, that we're really living.