This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here.
I have spent much of my life chasing. Chasing the next grade, the next weekend, the next milestone. Rarely did I allow myself to sit fully in the present. It wasn’t until about a year ago, through a series of events that forced me to slow down, that I realized how little time I had spent appreciating where I already was. That pause became a reset: a chance to reflect, reassess, and recalibrate.
This realization came while completing one of the most demanding periods of my life: earning my degree while progressing through flight school. It was the hardest thing I have done. Yet even then, I was consumed by what came next: the next check-ride, the next exam, the next qualification. I was so focused on finishing that I lost sight of the privilege of doing what I once dreamed about. There was a time when the thought was simply, “Wait, we get to fly planes?” Somewhere along the way, that wonder became, “I want to fly for a company. I want to fly bigger, better aircraft.” Ambition replaced awe.
That mindset did not just affect me, it affected those around me. I was often physically present but mentally preoccupied, always leaning toward the next objective. Now, with my credentials and degree in hand, I find myself facing the same temptation while job hunting. The pursuit of the next opportunity can quietly overshadow the people who helped me reach this point in the first place.
I know I am not alone in this. Many young professionals and even seasoned ones re-entering the workforce feel the pressure to keep moving, to keep proving, to keep advancing. In a culture that rewards constant progression, it is easy to feel behind. Comparison creeps in. Negative self-talk follows. The cycle repeats.
But comparison truly is the thief of joy. The version of me who once marveled at simply being in a cockpit would be proud of where I stand today. That perspective matters and I hope readers find perspective too.
If there is one lesson I am learning, it is this: whatever you are working toward matters, but so do the people beside you. Your support system carries you through your hardest days. They deserve your presence, not just your ambition.
And it only takes one yes. One opportunity can change everything. Until that moment comes, be patient. Use the in-between time wisely. Slow down enough to recognize that younger you or someone watching you now would be amazed at how far you have come.
Work hard. Stay humble. And do not forget to appreciate the runway you are already standing on.
This is dedicated to my family, friends, and my fiancée – thank you for grounding me, holding me accountable, and reminding me who I am when I get too far ahead of myself.
