Unintended Consequences (file under always something to learn)

First off I want to congratulate my brother and his beautiful bride on their wedding. There could not have been a more perfect day if you had ordered it. The setting was gorgeous. The people great. The celebration wonderful and I am shocked that you could pull it off in such a short time. I’m proud of you both and wish you all the love, joy and success you both deserve.

Over the past few days I have had a lot of time to think. Prior to leaving I got into a conversation with A and Chef. The details of which are going to stay with them and I. But it did get me to thinking. And I haven’t stopped.

I made a decision to do what I am doing late last year. I was disgruntled. Unhappy. Unsure and in large measure unaware. Unaware of what I was. What I was becoming. And where I was going.

I chose what I am doing because I wanted to be honest. With myself. With those that love me. And even those that I have not come across in any meaningfully way yet. I have written about the mistaken notion that some have about becoming a chef. The glamour and the glitz. Well, in the nine months that I have been at it I can tell you I have seen no glamour. NO GLITZ.

I have seen hard work. Endless hard work. Thankless work. Work that most quit because they can’t handle the grind.

One of the unintended consequences of the conversation that was had last Thursday is that I began to doubt myself. Really right up until the moment that I started writing this. I mean I really found myself questioning not just my decision but also my actions. However, as time has passed and I’ve had time to think I know that I am meant to be a Chef. I know at least in part some of the things that I have to do and I now pledge myself to redouble my efforts in my quest.

As I wrote last week before leaving for my brothers’ wedding I wrote a post which basically said that I need to keep my mouth shut. But in reality it is more than that. I need to pay attention to everything. Question what I have to and LET ACTIONS SPEAK.

I can say that I am happier than I have ever been in my life and I believe that the next few months are going to make me even more so. But I am also one hundred percent certain that to date my journey has been relatively easy. I think it begins anew and with greater difficulty tomorrow. And I welcome it with a smile. I came to learn, to work, to become and the future begins today, with every move I make and every decision I follow through with.

I am grateful for the days that I have had off. They cleansed me in more ways than I thought possible. But I can say, without equivocation, I am going to learn, to live my dream and to become even better as a human being every day. And while some of these are intended consequences it is the very real life changing unintended ones which are helping me to become the man that I always have believed I was meant to be. Growth is a funny thing and I thank A and Chef for taking the time to help me see.

Calvin Coolidge once said; “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

Are you dreaming big and inspired?

A la prochaine

SDM