For Every Door that Closes (file under Opportunity)

Alexander Graham Bell once said; “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

At first last Tuesday I left Reservation feeling dejected, unwanted, unneeded and what’s more as if my contribution to Reservation had counted for nothing. While considering all of these over the past week I have come to realize that Executive Chef was right in not taking me back. It is for my own good and by doing so he is actually ensuring that I can achieve what I want.

Now that does not for a minute suggest that I did not want to be back at Reservation. But I’ve come to realize that in the decision not to take me back the old adage of “familiarity breeds contempt,” probably came into play. It was not a comment on my contribution to Reservation, nor, for that matter, on me as a person. It was instead, at least now this is how I see it, on what I want to achieve and how best to get there.

Moreover, Executive Chef reminded me about; “ferme la bouche.” It was brought up in the context of my intelligence and working in a kitchen and how if I can not learn to control my voice, both inner and outer it will negatively impact on my ability to be a great brigade member. In many ways I feel as if, through repetition, he is wanting me to get a hold of myself, my sometimes manic outwardly expression, grab it by the balls, and become exactly what I say I want to.

I’ve always had a big mouth. In the past it has both helped and hurt me. And the more I hear about ferme la bouche, the more I realize that it is now time for me to be more than just the master of my domain but also my inner workings.

So for that I would like to thank Executive Chef for taking the time to see me. For taking the time to consider taking me back and for coming to the conclusion that the path that I am on is not one of comfort and familiarity but rather one of discomfort and lack of familiarity. I appreciate it and I will shine as Executive Chef desires. As I desire. And I’m sure as all of you desire.

Through reflection I have come to realize that, as the above quote says, staring at the closed door prevents me from continued growth and indeed success. So rather than focusing on the closed door I am instead looking for open doors. And the doors are opening.

This past week the Executive Chef at a prominent club in the city has asked me to come in and see him about a great position. Moreover, Chef has opened the door for me at a very nice French restaurant through a Chef friend of his, a Michelin trained mentor, that he says I can learn oodles from. So here I am, clearing my mind on this first Sunday of spring, readying myself for the onslaught of opportunity that will allow me to continue on this path. Spring is a time for renewal, for new growth and for the unfurling of something beautiful. And here I sit!

I am at times, unduly hard on myself; in fact I am harder on myself than anyone ever could be. I’ve come to realize over the course of the last week that while this is positive sometimes, more often than not, that nagging voice (don’t pretend you don’t have one) holds me in place or back. It creates a conflict within myself that does nothing to help me and more often that not, hurts me. So, another thing on my list of things to work on.

Everything in life, thus far, has helped me to get to this point. There have been some things, that naturally I could live without, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I am the result of my past and use that energy to promote a future of my own design. It is not always easy to look at ones self and acknowledge their flaws. However, if you can, and you adjust you’ll find a greater happiness caused my clarity of thought and action.

So I’m not going to stare at the closed door. Instead I am going to figure out how best to open the best door for me. To get to where I need to be,

Howard Thurman once wrote; “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Are you dreaming big and inspired?

A la prochaine

SDM