by Mary Maus Kosir
We all wear many hats. I’m a daughter, sister, mother, mentor, mentee, friend, partner, spouse, leader…the list goes on. On any given day, they are all worn in some shape or form. This is my life. And the older I get, the faster time appears to tick by. The words I speak, the food I eat, the activities I pursue, the decisions I make, the conversations I have, the energy I put out in the world continues to define and shape me. It’s an incredible honor to be engaged in this life. To wear the many hats.
And I’m so grateful for the opportunity to continually grow and develop. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m pushing the envelope towards 50 years on this Earth. I’m scared AF. And I’m alive. I know I’m alive because my pulse is racing. I’m excited. Anxious. Learning. And I’ve decided I can do this. I am doing this. It might not look or feel like I had anticipated. I am pursuing my legend. After 20 plus years in a relatively safe environment where I raised my kids, engaged in my community, built an amazing network of friends and mentors, I am jumping. And I feel like a bad ass. I have this awesome card on my desk that I got from my husband many years ago. It reads, simply, “She let go, forging a hole through the air, as she screamed past her limitations”. That’s me. And I’ve learned a few things on this journey:
- Perfect gets in the way of good enough.
- A good blowout is life changing.
- If not me, then who? And if not now, then when? Do it. Now.
- Endings are also beginnings of a new kind.
- Surround yourself with friends that engage and challenge you. That make you smile and laugh. That are there when you cry. And that become your family.
I’m grateful for this ride. I’m looking forward to a hell of a lot more. But I know that this day, these hours, and these minutes are my life in miniature. And I am living them. These small choices and decisions lead to major consequences over time. Every single day is important. So why not be a badass? Pursue it. This life of ours? It’s fast. It can be fleeting. My daughter is going to college. My son can put his chin on my head when I’m standing up. My husband, 22 years later, is still my rock. Full speed ahead.
Mary Maus Kosir
Soon to be retired Assistant Dean, Carlson School of Management University of Minnesota
Co-founder and CEO, WholeMe
