19 Comments

I love this story. I think it is possible to carry the innocence and brightness of youth with us the rest of our lives, as you say, by riding the winds of playfulness, curiosity, and exploration. As naive as you were in some respects the strategy was pretty sophisticated.

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Your last sentence caught my attention, Rick. I'm going to sit with that. Thank you. For always reading between the lines, and helping me unwrap more layers of my onion life.

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Great story! I've always been fond of the quote "The harder you work, the luckier you get", but now I know it also applies to being "lucky" in unexpected places, not just the expected ones!

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Thanks Catherine. What was a revelation to me.about luck was that it is available to many. And that it is something that requires our participation. Sometimes we are not looking at it. Other times we don't have the courage or confidence to take a chance on ourselves.

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😘 there is so much of your journey that I don’t know. Some wonderful insights to help reduce the anxiety of interviewing and to understand your worth. Learning how to silence that inner judging voice is key because it limits you as a person and plays on all your fears.

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There is so much we don't know about others! This is why we tell the stories. (Now I feel like I am sitting across a campfire ... "When I was young ..."

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“Treat it like a warm-up” - I love this mindset. This is something I need to practice more. You are so right, though. When we take the pressure off ourselves, it's so much easier to perform.

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So true, Randy. We (rightly) expect a lot from ourselves. But just as with my realization with Parenting (E90) if we do not occassionally glance left or right in our commitment to a single path, we might miss some great opportunities just begging to be discovered.

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Good job my friend. I resemble that

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Thank you Karena for sharing your inspirational trajectory here. A phrase that has been popping into my mind recently as I think of various projects ahead of me, which I’m attributing rightly or wrongly to writer Dorothea Brande, ‘What if it were easy?’ Full disclosure, I have a strong tendency to overcomplicate things in my head.

Great storytelling and happy birthday to the young woman with that confident stance - what a gift to have starting out in life. 🙌

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"What if it were easy" - a great approach to life, Margaret. Sometimes I do think I get in my own way too much. This is a perennial learning journey that we each take. But it is nice to know from many sources (including Ozan Varol) that we can shed the shoulds.

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Interesting K. Very. Never knew you'd graduated as an IT person. Always thought you were into the financial side of things. My journey's been even crazier. Details someday when i get a bit of time. But yes.. all true what you say. And well documented and written too. That's life. Nice one. Am sending it to a few younger friends who're having a little trouble getting started in life. Thanx for this one K. Keep up the great work...

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You. Me. Conversation. Soon.

Thank you for sharing this essay with some younger folk, Ricky.

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Jun 17, 2023·edited Jun 17, 2023Liked by Karena

Sure. Say when. Would be a pleasure...

And yes, I almost always pass the link to most of your posts around, on to friends I think could benefit from your great clarity of thought . Thanx for that. Often says in written words, very clearly and well, the stuff I tell them about life, over cups of masala chai or coffee when they drop by to chat about something that's bothering them.

Just noticed someone in the group mentioning overthinking stuff. Yes that's an interesting angle too. Sometimes being naive (without being stupid) and daring (without being brash) helps. In our time without so much information at our fingertips it was easy. The younger gen has it tough. A simple Google search can make you doubt your very existence and overthink it.

Great article K... lovely read and lotta great life tips too. Cheers.

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Jun 17, 2023Liked by Karena

Karena me thinks that sassy girl doesn’t fall far from the tree! Great story 👏

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Thank you Kathy! It was the start of a wonderful career and life experience.

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Love reading this bit of your history, Karena!

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So wonderful to see your comment today, Kathleen. I am thoroughly enjoying all the Turtle conversations happening on your Instagram.

We need a good catch up.

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Yes! Will email you! xoxo

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