I was reflecting on how I got to where I am today, in this place where I feel so centered and so right about what I’m doing and where I’m headed, and as a Connectedness, I’m always so struck by the encounters that mold our futures.
When we talk about people that changed our lives, we often talk about teachers or parents or mentors who intended to have an impact, but my Connectedness is more interested in the people who didn’t intend to do anything other than what was in front of them in the moment.
When I was 20, I met Mohan because he was living in the buildings where I was an RA. I’d been playing the piano and he stopped in the building to ask if I happened to be interested in doing a gig.
That gig was a substitute Sunday morning at Lynn‘s church, which is where I learned about Bethel, which is where I learned about Strengths, which is where I got the skills in I/O, which is what led me to having the skills available when writers needed them, which was the advent of the BFA.
All because I was playing the piano on a Tuesday morning before classes.
Sometimes, we look so much to the big stuff. To the things we do or the people who intend to change our lives. To our control over our trajectories. To our intentions. To the programs we make or the decisions we make.
But the reality is, if I hadn’t been playing the piano on a Tuesday morning before classes at Montana State University (which I went to because Kristy went there, and my mom and dad went there), I wouldn’t be here today, speaking to any of you who are reading this.
As a Connectedness person, that kind of serendipity doesn’t bother me or make me feel out of control. I know I’m not in control of basically anything, especially on a cosmic scale. And whatever happens happens. But I sure have learned to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way.
And I’ve learned to be open to nudges and open to risks, and that’s part of what got me here, too.
But I wonder if anyone else has a story like mine. I know my personality (Connectedness, Significance, Futuristic) is designed to look for this stuff, so not everyone will resonate. But I wanted to share that moment and that profound gratitude for the nudges and for people like Mohan who just ask, “hey, might you be interested in this thing?”
Every good thing that’s come my way in my life has happened because of something someone else did or gave me. I wish I could say I created any of it, but I just haven’t. So much of it has been either bestowed upon me or handed to me. And to be unaware of that feels really disingenuous on my part. All my work has been in response to something someone else did first.
This is also why I listen for what’s coming next. And why I listen for when it might be the right time to take a risk or to say yes. Because I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
Anyway, I’m full of gratitude this morning. For my parents and my family and friends. For the people who work with me and the people I’ve worked with in the past. For all these things that have been given to me, I’m grateful.
– Becca