The good, the bad, and the ugly? Figure it out.
by Kate Moret
I was 10-years-old. My family had just arrived in Paris, via Chunnel, after spending a week in London. This was our second family trip to London, and first trip to Paris. London was magical. It was like home, but way better, because everyone spoke how I imagined Disney princesses should sound.
Then we got to Paris. I can still relive the underground train station upon our rush-hour arrival. It was hot, crowded, smelled like sweat, and I couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying. I hated it. After some chaos where our family was separated between cars, the five of us: Mom, Dad, two older brothers Tim and Dan, and myself, exited the sweatbox of a train with our luggage in tow. We reconvened on the platform and started to again swim through the crowds towards an exit. Then my mom stopped.
“We were robbed. Everything is gone,” she said with her hand in her purse, and her face draining of color.
Dad jumped in, “No way. You just dropped something. Let’s turn around.”
“No, Mark. The money, passports, and travelers checks are all gone.”
We all stopped for what was probably a single “one-mississippi” sized pause, and then my mom continued, “Well, you know, that’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
I could go into a much longer plot line from here, which actually involves me begging for money to use a public toilet (tell ya later), but that’s not what’s important. Did we have to sit at the American embassy in Paris for an entire day of vacation? Yes. Did we get home safe and sound? Yes. Are those the most impactful pieces of this story on my life? No.
Ever since that day, whenever something in my life goes ‘wrong’ or is filled with uncertainty, fear, or doubt, I can hear my mom’s voice saying “Well, you know, that’s okay. Figure it out.”
Shit is going to hit the fan. Things will never go 100% as planned. You will need to do things you are not ready to do. To me, these moments are THE moments. It’s when you figure out what you are made of, along with what those around you are made of.
In fact, the skill, art, and overall worldview of “figuring it out” is probably the attribute I value most in myself and in those around me. This approach to life has not only helped me get through difficult situations, but also has helped me achieve some of my biggest accomplishments.
For example, last July, I went camping, by myself, in Iceland, for a week. Was I nervous to travel alone for the first time…oh yeah, and while camping? Absolutely. Did I want to cave and invite a friend to come with me? Yup. But I stayed with the original challenge to figure it out, and spent a week exploring a new country, and a new way of travel, both of which I couldn’t have loved more. And I have the snapchats to prove it.
Most recently, I had the honor of accepting a full time position at Alchemy on the Training & Product Development Team with Tyler Quinn. Leaving my stable, secure previous career in advertising was not something I decided lightly. However, working at Alchemy has been a dream of mine pretty much since I first walked through the doors. And as I stare towards this next life transition, no doubt involving change and uncertainty, I could be nervous, anxious, and even scared. And honestly? Maybe I am a little.
But you know what the best part is? I will figure it out.
Kate Moret is a coach at Alchemy Northeast and Director of Training and New Product Development. In her spare time you can find her walking her dog, eating pizza, or playing cribbage.
