...that I never associated with myself. I always thought of myself as someone who took calculated risks or thought long and hard before jumping in. It's funny because a lot of the major changes that happened in my life came about from decisions that I didn't think about too long or too hard. Hardly at all, to be frank. My dad once told me that I've always been like that. I make my decisions, act on them and then tell them about it afterwards. I don't ask for advice or opinions first. Most decisions I make quickly, no what ifs and no back-up plans. Off the top of my head, 3 major instances come to mind:
Cebu. I came to work one Friday evening and my team manager asked who'd be interested in going to Cebu to help out with the nesting phase of the first batch of technical support agents. At that time, I knew next to nothing about the place. All I knew for certain was that I have never been there and I wanted to go. The following Monday afternoon, I was picking up my itinerary from the office and heading to the airport for what was supposed to be a 2-week assignment, which lasted about a year. :)
Baguio. I was vacationing in Baguio with my cousin for a week. One afternoon, on our way home from town, we saw a huge tarpaulin outside this BPO which stated in big, bold letters that they were hiring. The next instant, we were getting off at the next internet café and editing our CVs. Next morning, I found myself being interviewed by the HR manager, then the team manager and being scheduled for an exam. That instant decision was a job that lasted 3 years.
China. On the tail end of a 10-day vacation in Beijing, while a good friend was touring us around his version of the city, I told my sister that I wanted to work there. The results weren't as instantaneous as the first 2 though. There were a lot of logistics to be considered since this wasn't just any foreign country, it was China for crying out loud! A lot of planning, bargaining and organizing went into play. But a little over a year a half after that statement was made, my sister and I were on a flight to Guilin, one of the most amazing places in China, on a 1-year teaching contract. We ended up staying in China for almost a year and a half. And what a wonderful year and a half that was!
I don't know why, but those decisions came about unhampered by fear or doubt. There was a clarity and a feeling of rightness with those decisions. There were times when I questioned my sanity, but never the decision itself. I didn't seek counsel, ask for advice and opinions not because I knew better. Honestly, I really truly didn't. I just knew unquestionably that it was what I wanted at that moment in time. I wasn't trying to be selfish or arrogant. It was just that I knew that if I ask and hear even a small question of doubt or worry from well-meaning family or friends, my resolve might sway and I will be driven by indecision which will taint whatever I do from thereon. Careful consideration is good and is sometimes necessary. In truth, for many people, it is always the first step. But it can also be a double-edged sword that will leave you frozen, too afraid of choosing wrongly. I'm sure there were moments in my life that I regretted jumping on impulse, but looking back, it was my moments of daring that helped make and define me. Those are the ones that I look back on, and even now, remind me how brave I was and can be again.
