Summer tourists flock to the Big Apple from all over the world. Their sheer presence presents a real and immediate circumnavigational challenge to New Yorkers who see turf turned into an obstacle course. Suddenly, their obsessive-compulsive one-directional on-the-go get-out-of-my-way walking style is ground to a near halt.
Well, truth be told – I am one such New Yorker.
My walking style often betrays my working style – even on the weekend!
On this Saturday morning, I was already late to a meeting and behind on my to-do list, so I was super-sensitive to what surrounds me that may slow me down. Soon after stepping out of my subway stop at 42nd Street (Bryant Park) in midtown Manhattan; I hit a wall – a human wall.
“Argh….tourists!” I snapped inside.
I immediately put my head down, looking for space to slither through the subway platform packed with out-of-towners. After beeping dozens of “excuse me” “excuse me”, I finally came up from underground for air on the street. Yet – more tourists! But now, I see light.
The scorching sun beating down on those wide-eyed tourists looking lost, yet laughing loud, suddenly revealed a refreshing Kodak moment of precious innocence. I got sucked into their childlike wows and wonder that went like this –
“Wow we’re here! New York! New York!
“What a beautiful day!”
“Look, Empire State Building…is that way!” “Wait, Time Square is over there!!”
They were standing at the crossroads of midtown Manhattan, staring at the axis of power where corporate America and commercial entertainment collide. Yet, they were unfazed and unafraid in the face of gigantic towers and massive billboards. They were oblivious to the city dwellers (like me) rushing about around them. They were happy to just take it all in, take their time before taking their next step.
At that moment, it dawned on me that summer tourists exemplify a philosophy of living that I embrace but can’t always execute. It is that life is an adventure, and we’re all tourists passing through. Seize the moment – pause and ponder. It is the Summer, slow down!
I know it’s easier said than done.
For students and new graduates, summer time can actually be extra stressful no matter how much they want to relax from work or get away to the beach. Are you anxious about getting the right internship, or landing your first job this summer?
Well, I certainly remember the many summers I’d stressed over applying for the kind of internships that would equip me with the right skills to land my dream job. I also remember my first summer in New York after graduating from college, I waited the entire season to hear back from a local TV news station that had invited me in for my first job interview. I called them week after week trying to get an update. Thankfully the newsroom secretary who answered my call was nice enough to tell me with a bit of assurance, “No decision yet, try again next week.”
I kept waiting and waiting in the city for that offer, which finally came in the Fall. That job offer was the only positive response I’d received after getting dozens of rejection letters saying basically – no openings now for new college graduates, thank you and goodbye!
Initially, rejection made it hard for me to relax. But rejection also made it easy for me to hit the “pause” button, and ponder some tough questions during that summer before getting that first job.
• Why do I want it?
• What if I didn’t get it?
• What if I did get it?
The first question was easy – Why do I want it?
I wanted to test what’s possible, I value opportunities that are hard to get. I love challenges. I wanted to gain work experience that could put my college education and vocational internships to use. I wanted to max out the one-year period that I, as a foreign student – (many of you can relate) was allowed to remain in the U.S. to see whether I could land a job here.
The second question was harder – What if I didn’t get it?
I would face failure. I had feared going back to Hong Kong because I’d failed to get a job here. But I was also realistic, and mentally prepared myself to accept that I might not get it but at least I tried my best. I truly believe that failure is the best teacher of success. It forces us to weed out the “can’t happen here now,” and to switch focus on “what can be done next.” I remember every morning, I’d prayed for patience and perspective to see the point of waiting. The question I always try to ask myself – is this worth the wait?
• The last question was the easiest. What if I did get it?
I promised myself then I would work hard each day, make many friends, and show what I could accomplish. Being a foreign student trying to land a job in America then was always about transcending barriers, pushing the envelope, and proving myself.
That summer of meditation and contemplation taught me a great deal about myself. I realize that I was quick to work but slow to relax until I hit a wall. But since that summer, I’ve also learned to hit “pause”, to ponder the meaning of what surrounds me. Over the years I have held many jobs and experienced even more rejections. But I discover that it’s always these time-out or slow-down between each move that re-orient and re-direct me. How about you? Is this a summer for you to pause and ponder what’s next?