Guess What? I'm back, but what do rollercoasters have to do with it?
There is a metaphor in rollercoasters somewhere..
Oh, hello stranger(s), how have you been?
Me? It’s been quite the rollercoaster, last time my life was flipped like this a pandemic hit.
With that being said, get the seatbelts fastened, the safety bars locked in place as I take you through my rollercoaster of life. The same one that, over this past year, has taken many unexpected turns.
As I climbed the uphill track of potential energy, I found myself wearing a graduation cap, having completed college. A proud moment filled with the optimism and anticipation reminiscent of the Renaissance artists who looked forward to a world filled with possibilities.
But as we know, after the climb comes the inevitable drop.
Leaving my consulting job was one of the first drops. The comforting arms of certainty were no longer there to steady me, and that made the leap into the world of startups, both my own endeavors at building and joining other builders, just that much scarier. This brave leap into the unknown reminds me of the Modernists who dared to challenge the status quo.
My community, which once felt like the grounding base of a steady track, seemed to change. Did I outgrow them? Or did they outgrow me? It felt like the twists and turns of a rollercoaster when you're unsure of the next direction. Just like the unpredictable canvases of the Surrealists, where reality blends into dreams.
I took chances on people and a company, and both, in their own ways, failed me. In one way as well, I might’ve failed myself. These sharp, unexpected turns, these heart-dropping moments, felt like the avant-garde art movements of the 20th century; challenging, unforeseen, and not always understood at first glance.
Even on the wildest rollercoaster, there are moments of calm. Tennis provided that pause for me, a serene stretch akin to art's Neoclassical periods. But life's thrills persist, like my first road trip, an open canvas just waiting to be explored. And in my dreams, a future Wrangler awaits, promising to amplify this rollercoaster of life with new terrains and adventures.
Yet, life threw in another loop-de-loop. I spent a year passionately building a company, only to have it shut down. Much like Thomas Cole's "Manhood" painting in "The Voyage of Life", I faced the turbulent waters, the looming storm, the uncertainties.
But, every end can be a new beginning. From the ashes of that endeavor, I've pivoted to this newsletter, the upcoming podcast (& cool things I’m building), and reigniting my love for art. It feels like the Renaissance reborn within me.
In the art of life, much like in history, we continually face periods of upheaval, challenge, growth, and revival. I've lived some of these phases intensely over the past year. As I make my comeback, I hope my journey resonates with some part of yours.
Let's ride this rollercoaster together. Hold on tight, scream when you need to, but most importantly, enjoy the journey.
Till next time,
Sarah