How Far Will You Go?

That’s a pretty broad question but it depends on your situation. For example, how far will you go for love? Would you endure a long distance relationship? Would you travel and start a new life, in a new place for the one you love? How far will you go for wealth? Could you take a leap of faith to pursue your career over working a regular job, even though there’s no guarantee? Over the last 3 years I’ve observed that everyone has their own limits.

Limits on what they will accept in life and what they won’t. I’ve seen that everyone can’t handle having their comfort zones tested, some people are not built for it and are comfortable with where they are. Now on the other hand, there are people who will do whatever it takes to be happy. I’m not talking about the “commercial happy”—when the cameras cut they go back to being miserable. I mean the happiness that’s ultimately untouchable, something so pure that nothing of this world can touch it. This is the type of happiness that most people overlook because it takes a level of sacrifice that can get uncomfortable.

Now, I’m no expert on this topic. I’m simply giving my perspective because I’ve been the person that plays it safe. Took a few risks but nothing too crazy. My comfort zone hadn’t been tested as much as I thought. The success I want to obtain requires me to be battle tested. This version of me is 25 going on 26, single, and honestly just trying to get his shit together. So what’s different from that person I was versus the man I’ve become?

Syandene. My best friend, love of my life, wife, and mother of my children. She has believed in me so much. She pushed me to take the risks, to challenge myself as a man and to own who I am as a person. She saw right through me and all of my flaws—that was difficult for me. Slowly but surely she continued to show me that most of the time I was only getting in my own way. Doubt was one of my biggest downfalls, even with the impressive resume of work that I have I always found a way to doubt myself. It was tough because deep down I did believe in myself but overall it was my surroundings that made it difficult to keep my confidence high. That’s just what happens when you live in Milwaukee. You have to fight yourself to be confident or else you’ll just put yourself in a dark place.

Initially I started writing this post my third day in California but I couldn’t really focus on writing because I had to experience everything first. After a complete week of being here I can tell you that you have to be ready to be uncomfortable. Right now in society, most people don’t even realize how “comfortable” they are, even though they aren’t happy with their current situation. Being uncomfortable has to become an action and you have to put yourself in situations that will only produce growth.

Again, this was something I was aware of but wouldn’t have truly understood if it wasn’t for Ci. (Ci is short for Syandene) If you’re from Milwaukee or just Wisconsin in general then you may understand that there’s a certain comfort level that you blindly fall into. I love where I’m from but it’s a poisonous cycle that can consume you if you aren’t strong enough to break it. I spent a lot of time trying really hard to save and uplift my city, (to some extent there was success) but overall I cannot save Milwaukee by just simply being there.

There was a lot going on leading up to me leaving Milwaukee, but when I arrived in California and I caught the clock at 10:11 PM. It was confirmation that I was on the right mission.

Stay in tune for Contribution 2 coming January 30.