Even though it's early in the morning, I've found myself thinking today a lot about my impulsive nature. I've read a book or two on being impulsive, and how it has pros and cons, but in my own life I haven't experienced many of the cons the books discuss. I've pretty much always been impulsive, but to a lesser degree than I am now. When I was younger I would randomly decide I wanted to try a new activity. Hence why I played soccer, basketball, volleyball, and I danced and cheered. I didn't stick with each activity long, but I enjoyed them while I did them. I also went through my "artistic" phase, where I decided to paint, draw, sculpt, and do ceramics. I thought I would be fashion designer, so I tried my hand at sewing. I decided to become a musician, so I tried flute, guitar, piano, drums, and singing. I was never very good at any of those activities, but I loved doing them.
Now, as I'm growing up my impulses are growing with me. Now instead of changing hobbies, I'm changing life plans. My family is constantly being surprised with the newest and craziest life ideas I've come up with, and are usually slightly frightened to here my new ideas. Texts or phone calls from me that start with "I had an idea!" or "I've decided what I want to do this summer" or even "I know what I want to do with my life" are common and almost every day occurrences. My ideas can change, my plans can change, but one thing is constant. When I come up with an idea, I strive to make it come true, as best as I can. I put all my efforts into making my current dream possible. Sometimes the ideas aren't too crazy, like me deciding to change up my style. But more often then not they are.
In November of 2012 I decided I wanted to go on a missions trip. So I called up a family friend, and BOOM I was going to India. I went to dinner with my family and during the middle of the dinner I just throughout, "Hey, by the way I'm going to India in January." I don't think I've ever seen a more confused or stunned look on my dad. It took me awhile to convince them, but once my dad realized I wasn't going to accept no for an answer, he said yes! So I fundraised about $3000 in 2 weeks, got all of my vaccinations, bought a plane ticket, and got my visa. I also had to get all my homework from my school, because I was missing about two weeks of my senior year of high school. And two weeks later I left for India, which would turn out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
In December of this year, I was sitting at home on Christmas Break from college, thinking about where I wanted my life to go. I had spent the last semester at school thinking I was going to major in Global Politics and Chinese, in the hopes that I could work overseas as a translator, because all I really want to do in life is travel, do photography, and help people. But as I sat there, and thought over my last semester I realized how miserable I was. It wasn't what I was passionate about, and it wasn't something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. So, the week before my Spring semester started, I dropped every single one of my classes I was originally taking, and took a whole bunch of random, meaningless classes. And about 2 months into my Spring term, I called home and told my parents, "Guys! I've got it. I'm switching my major to Kinesiology." While switching my major from Chinese and Global Politics to Kinesiology seems like a drastic change in majors, to me it makes logical sense. You see, I was studying Chinese and Global Politics so that I could help people and spend time overseas. But with kinesiology I get the opportunity to become an occupational or physical therapist and help people that way. So it works perfectly with my life plan.
Currently, I am making plans for summer and trying to figure out what to do with my months off. I threw around a couple of ideas such as, Joining the Elevate program, doing a summer session at WSU, going on a 95 day road trip, getting a job at home, or getting a job in a random state. My summer plans constantly changed from day to day. I'd tell my parents, "I MADE A DECISION." And it'd changed 2 hours later. Well I was sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings on Spring Break, and announced, "I'm staying home and working." I honestly didn't it through. I didn't know where I was going to work. I didn't even contemplate the idea for more than 5 seconds. But it's been about a week since I made that decision, and I don't regret it yet.
So, while many people think that impulsive decision making is bad, I think it is good. Almost all of my treasured memories are things that occurred simply because I was being impulsive. I chose an idea, and focus all my energy on it, simply refusing to fail. I think that's one of the biggest things you have to learn in life. You have to learn that failure is a good thing. You have to say to yourself "Failure is not an option", and then if you do fail, you accept it, and say "I failed, but I tried." At the end of your life, you won't be disappointed about the things you tried and failed, you'll be disappointed by the things you failed to try. I'm not saying that you should make all your life decisions impulsively, not everyone can do that. I'm just saying impulse can lead to some of the best and greatest adventures you will ever have. So give it a try, and live your life.
"If the reason we don't go for it is so that we can maintain the status quo, and you can't maintain the status quo, then you are only risking what is impossible to maintain." -John Richmond
Now, as I'm growing up my impulses are growing with me. Now instead of changing hobbies, I'm changing life plans. My family is constantly being surprised with the newest and craziest life ideas I've come up with, and are usually slightly frightened to here my new ideas. Texts or phone calls from me that start with "I had an idea!" or "I've decided what I want to do this summer" or even "I know what I want to do with my life" are common and almost every day occurrences. My ideas can change, my plans can change, but one thing is constant. When I come up with an idea, I strive to make it come true, as best as I can. I put all my efforts into making my current dream possible. Sometimes the ideas aren't too crazy, like me deciding to change up my style. But more often then not they are.
In November of 2012 I decided I wanted to go on a missions trip. So I called up a family friend, and BOOM I was going to India. I went to dinner with my family and during the middle of the dinner I just throughout, "Hey, by the way I'm going to India in January." I don't think I've ever seen a more confused or stunned look on my dad. It took me awhile to convince them, but once my dad realized I wasn't going to accept no for an answer, he said yes! So I fundraised about $3000 in 2 weeks, got all of my vaccinations, bought a plane ticket, and got my visa. I also had to get all my homework from my school, because I was missing about two weeks of my senior year of high school. And two weeks later I left for India, which would turn out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
In December of this year, I was sitting at home on Christmas Break from college, thinking about where I wanted my life to go. I had spent the last semester at school thinking I was going to major in Global Politics and Chinese, in the hopes that I could work overseas as a translator, because all I really want to do in life is travel, do photography, and help people. But as I sat there, and thought over my last semester I realized how miserable I was. It wasn't what I was passionate about, and it wasn't something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. So, the week before my Spring semester started, I dropped every single one of my classes I was originally taking, and took a whole bunch of random, meaningless classes. And about 2 months into my Spring term, I called home and told my parents, "Guys! I've got it. I'm switching my major to Kinesiology." While switching my major from Chinese and Global Politics to Kinesiology seems like a drastic change in majors, to me it makes logical sense. You see, I was studying Chinese and Global Politics so that I could help people and spend time overseas. But with kinesiology I get the opportunity to become an occupational or physical therapist and help people that way. So it works perfectly with my life plan.
Currently, I am making plans for summer and trying to figure out what to do with my months off. I threw around a couple of ideas such as, Joining the Elevate program, doing a summer session at WSU, going on a 95 day road trip, getting a job at home, or getting a job in a random state. My summer plans constantly changed from day to day. I'd tell my parents, "I MADE A DECISION." And it'd changed 2 hours later. Well I was sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings on Spring Break, and announced, "I'm staying home and working." I honestly didn't it through. I didn't know where I was going to work. I didn't even contemplate the idea for more than 5 seconds. But it's been about a week since I made that decision, and I don't regret it yet.
So, while many people think that impulsive decision making is bad, I think it is good. Almost all of my treasured memories are things that occurred simply because I was being impulsive. I chose an idea, and focus all my energy on it, simply refusing to fail. I think that's one of the biggest things you have to learn in life. You have to learn that failure is a good thing. You have to say to yourself "Failure is not an option", and then if you do fail, you accept it, and say "I failed, but I tried." At the end of your life, you won't be disappointed about the things you tried and failed, you'll be disappointed by the things you failed to try. I'm not saying that you should make all your life decisions impulsively, not everyone can do that. I'm just saying impulse can lead to some of the best and greatest adventures you will ever have. So give it a try, and live your life.
"If the reason we don't go for it is so that we can maintain the status quo, and you can't maintain the status quo, then you are only risking what is impossible to maintain." -John Richmond