Streaming: When you are leaving something wrong or starting something right

For the friends starting a new art, new job, new life role, or even life in a new country...
For those who are leaving wrong relationships or starting a new phase of an existing one...
For when you start a new school or degree and you're scared shitless...
On the days you've started a new diet or lifestyle, and you're pretty sure you'll have blown it by 10am because that annoying coworker is forever bringing donuts to the work break room...
For when you look around you and think, "Something has got to change, or I will lose my freaking mind!"
So for all of us, starting out bravely and blindly and for when the first or thirtieth speed bump comes:

You're in a stream, and it's a good stream.
You did a good job choosing this stream, and you're headed forward.
You're walking up the stream, because that works better for my analogy, and because riding in a kayak is a sure way to flip upside down and bang your face on a rock.

When a rush of water and strong current come, don't go backwards.
I know you see that tree behind you.  It's where you held on for years.
It wasn't the worst tree, but it's no longer your tree.
It may look strong from here, but it's skinny and weak and worn out.  You knew that, that's why you started upstream in the first place.
You knew something better was up ahead.
Don't you want to see what it is?

I know you're worried you headed the wrong direction.  No one made you.  Maybe people even warned you against it, but you've started now.  You knew you needed it, and you were right.

If the current is too strong now, be still in this spot for today.  You don't have to make it all the way upstream in a week.  I didn't want to tell you this before you began, but it's a long ass stream.  If you're like me, you like to check things off.  You like a stream that ends each day nice and neat, with closure, a check mark and a gold star.  But listen, honey.  You had nice and neat back at that old tree.  Or you had something you no longer wanted.  Don't you want to see a new way?


Not everyday will be full of music and gold stars.
But listen, look around.  Where are you?  Look up.
Is it sunny?  Find something that's going well or at least not shitty,
Dig those toes into the muddy river bed a moment.
You're stronger now.  Kelly Clarkson said so.  You can handle this current passing through.

Maybe you brought your partner, spouse, kids, friends, coworkers, or pets with you.
Oof.  That's enough to weigh you down with guilt and question whether you should've come at all - much less drag others with you.
But listen, they can learn too.
Hold their hands tightly, teach them how to dig their feet into that ground.  Wait together and appreciate where you are a moment.  It's easier, or at least distracting, to learn and develop those digging in muscles together.  Being still isn't going backwards.  Even waiting out the wave takes growth and strength.

Quit looking back at the "safe" tree.  The fact you left it, shows you'd outgrown it.  It wouldn't hold you now anyway.  At some point, you will be ready to move again.  If there are others with you, sometimes one of them will be ahead, sometimes you will be.  Even the youngest or smallest will pull at times.  They're already growing; you've seen it and it's a gift.

Love,
The annoying work who is always bringing donuts to the work break room.