Shaping Reality

This past year was a wild one. I experienced my first layoff, plunged into what could only be described as a quarter-life crisis, had a four-month trip of a lifetime, and left it with direction and intention unlike any I've experienced.

I had periods of joy, excitement, anxiety, and doubt.

I made lifelong friends one day and said bye to them the next.

I went from "I never care to do work again." to starting not one, but two businesses.

And compared to my friends and family, life didn't feel real. I was a little bubble, a wonderland of my own creation, a world with no structure, no expectations, and no responsibility.

From the outside, I think I seemed lost… for a time, maybe I was.

But as the year went on, something became clear to me. My little wonderland wasn't a wonderland at all. It was a potential reality, sitting in the shadows, waiting to be recognized. And for maybe the first time in my life, I realized I was looking at something I truly wanted.

Not something influenced by what others wanted for me, but something truly for me.

But then I returned home, and life flooded back in.

Coffee with old mentors, beers with old friends, and the constant looming question, "What are you doing next?"

I was expected to fall back in line, and it was difficult to resist.

There was judgment, worry, and anxiety about my "lack of direction" from the people around me. They wanted the best for me, and they all had their own ideas of what that meant. Sadly, none of their ideas lined up with mine.

So, with conviction in the life I'd briefly glimpsed, I pushed forward, pursuing new ideas, attempting new businesses, and seeing if I had what it took to make my life mine.

It seems I do.

Fast forward to today, and my life is exactly what I pictured. Sure, I haven't made money yet or "found success," but for now, that doesn't matter.

In the past several weeks, I've been more motivated by work than any other time in my life.

And I've done it without sacrificing the life I want to live.

My reality is starting to take shape.

This week, I arrived in Leon, Nicaragua. Immediately, I met an awesome girl with whom I spent a few days. We explored, laughed, and hit the gym together, only to part ways a few days later — maybe never to see each other again.

The same day, I made an awesome group of friends at my hostel. With them, I hiked up and boarded down an active volcano, played volleyball at sunset on the beach, and had great food, great laughs, and a great party or two.

And between the adventures, I’ve had some of the most productive working days of my past few months. It turns out I get good work done when I’m in a good mood.

This is the reminder I needed. This is the life I want to live.

And I'm excited to start living it.

-Harrison

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Some pictures from the past few days.

The view from my hostel as I write this piece.

The crew

Volcano Boarding!

Sunset Volleyball