So, apparently, my biggest fear about making a work comeback is not technology, or interviews, or even explaining why my career break lasted longer than most Netflix series!! Its not!!
My VIP-level, front-row-seat FEAR is this: “I am 44. Is that not TOO LATE to start again?”
BAM!
That’s the first roadblock I have successfully built in front of myself. And before you know it, I have built a second one too the billion dollar question!!
“WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK!!” … This fear comes from a woman who doesn’t even know her next-door neighbour’s exists in real!
My brain (fine, our brain to make me feel better) treats this “No – Sense construction” like a full-time gig. And trust me, it builds faster than Elon’s SpaceX launches.
Here are some of its greatest hits:
“You are out of touch.”
“People will wonder what you were doing all these years.”
“You won’t be able to juggle home and work.”
“Your peers are Directors and Heads of Departments… and you? Nowhere.”
“In a world where the young can’t find jobs, you think you will?”
Honestly, the list goes on longer than a politician’s speech …. lots of heavy words but Zero Substance!!
That’s when I decided to use my POWER WORD: IGNORE. IGNORE IGNORE..
Ignore what the mind cooks up INSTEAD feed it better ingredients so the outcome is a little more positive.
So here I am, reminding myself:
I am 44, and I say that proudly.
Old enough not to care about looking cool. Old enough to have stories that inspire. Young enough to create more.
As for “what people will think?”
Well, people barely remember what they ate for breakfast. I can rest be assured they are not writing essays about my career choices :))
With just these two Stepping Stones, I can already see the road ahead opening up.
Because Fear doesn’t get the Final Word anymore … I Do!!
Signing off before my twins find me 🙂
Preeti Ben
Full-time Referee | Coach (Helping People Grow Skills Books Can’t Teach) | Born for Recruitment | Certified Common-Sense Believer