The Plunge I Never Regretted

Photo source here.

take the plunge (idiom) - to decide to do something, esp. after thinking about it for a long time. Reference: Cambridge Dictionaries Online

Ever taken a plunge in your life and eventually take it back?

I did. I took a promotion that has been at my arm's length for years but stepped down after a few months. They weren't easy decisions - both the going up and the stepping down. But I have no regrets.

Any promotion is attractive especially when you know it is going to make your life so much better financially and it is coming from a company which has given you so many opportunities to become a better person. You know very well that you are in good hands. When you are given a rare opportunity to step up while surrounding you with all the faith and support you need,   there is no reason not to take that plunge.

I did. I finally took the promotion everyone is saying I should. I gave it time, experience, a million thoughts, and prayers.

Why did it take me long to grab it? I have reasons; reasons that I have clearly laid down for all my friends, teammates, and even my supervisors to know. They all understood but it didn't stop them from pushing me to try it. I did. I listened. I listened to them and, more importantly, I listened to my heart and my prayers.

I took the plunge and observed myself in the whole process. I made mistakes. I accomplished victories. I was hated. I was loved. I gained friends and lost one or two. I laughed. I cried. It was an interesting ride.

After a few months of all these beautiful crazy things, I stepped down. I don't want to call it "quitting" because it ain't.

When I stepped down, I knew I disappointed some, especially those who have shown so much faith and support in me. I knew I'm gonna lose a good source of income. I knew I was going to receive less. I knew I was going to lose power and title. But I still made the decision.

I got some raised eyebrows from people who think I failed, and from people who think I can't make up my mind, and from people who think I lost the challenge and that I am weak and I can never make it anywhere (am teary-eyed writing this line). I didn't have time to explain and, honestly, I didn't think it was necessary to, not to all. As long as I was understood by the people that matter to me, I became at peace.

I took two plunges - one to step up and one to step down. Both are reasons to celebrate. No, I did not lose nor did I fail. I won because I found my answers. I found out that that promotion isn't really what I want; that I was willing to let go of the financial benefit that go with it, which I badly need now, just to follow what my heart desires.

No one should ever be deprived of that chance to take a plunge and find answers. It's like giving a child choices of whether to learn how to surf, or dance, or play the guitar. Let the child try it and discover for himself. There is nothing wrong if he tries it and eventually find out it's not for him. It isn't a sad story. It is a happy story because he was able to close a door and, maybe, open another. He may come back to that door but now may not be the time. This story doesn't just apply to kids. It applies to all ages.

I will be forever indebted to those who believed and helped me go up the ladder and those who stayed with me when I went down. I will never forget any of it. I hope that this writing will also tell you that you didn't fail and you should not regret what you did for me because it led me to an answer. My What if.. was answered.

Cheers to life's discoveries!