The Long Game of Decision Making
*I wrote this from maybe 20,000 feet somewhere over the Midwest as my best friend and I returned from Minneapolis to NYC on a Sunday evening. All I was thinking about for the entire three hours was how profoundly life changing a seemingly ridiculous decision I made at 23 has so positively impacted my life at 30. Not to make light of a decision a 23 year old makes, but the idea of leaving a dream job like booking world renowned musical acts such as Jay-Z, Rihanna, Eminem and so many others to go off on a whim sounds exactly like something irresponsible and stupid that a 23 year old would do. I had been working at the William Morris Agency (now known as William Morris Endeavor) for 2.5 years and was on an upward trajectory career path when the whole thing just seemed insane to me. I needed an adventure, and one that was somehow bigger than what I was already doing. At the time I thought it was a short term solution - something to do for 12 months, but I had no idea how much of a long game the whole thing would have.
Fast forward to today where I was in Minneapolis for a wedding recently, which seems fairly routine except that it was anything but. Friends new and old from around the globe came to spend only a few days together. We floated two miles down a river drinking & laughing on inner tubes, we toured the Mall of America & explored the city of Minneapolis like backpackers, and celebrated love.
The couple, Angie & Jake, are American friends I made in Korea who now live in Denver. After a few weeks in SoKo we were all amongst a tight knit group of at least 20 (maybe even 30-35) people from around the globe who are still just as connected years later. This group is full of truly amazing people with varied backgrounds & life experiences who range from 26-38 years in age. The thing they all have in common is how much they love life and everything it has to offer. They are travelers, academics, vagabonds, professionals, and some are now even parents - but nothing has changed.
There were people who came to this wedding that had spent time in Korea at a completely different time than some, or significant others who maybe only visited for a week, but it was as if we all have known each other our whole lives. I have close friends from high school, college, various jobs & projects - but nothing compares to this. This feeling where I get to be myself completely and where I am the best (and sometimes worst) version of myself with this group. But always happy.
Top: The Gang in Minneapolis July 2013. Bottom: Some of the same gang in Busan, Korea in June 2008
With the advent of things like social media years ago, being in Korea was easier than you'd think. Facebook messages were our lifeline & social life planner, MSN messenger was our preferred mode of instant messaging, and Skype was something that allowed us to keep up with those back home who couldn't understand what in the world we were all doing with our lives and why. As we have all moved on (and mostly moved away from Korea) we still keep up via Facebook and even the newer platforms that have popped up. There have been a few mini reunions in exotic locations along the way too, which isn't half bad. ;)
I can't quite tell you what specifically brought me to the idea of committing to Korea 7 years ago. I can tell you that 100% of my friends and family thought I was nuts, and 85% thought I'd never really do it.
All I really know is that when you're 23 (or any age) and have the world at your feet with the open road calling, or a voice in the back of your head saying to get out and experience life, you need to listen to it. It may be a series of good or bad experiences (and this story is full of both) but ultimately in the end you become a better person, and if you're truly lucky you'll create a family around the world that means more to you than they might ever know. Don't discount yourself and your abilities.
To sound 100% like a cliche - take the road less traveled. Choose your own adventure. But for the love of everything holy, don't sit still. Life's too short and the world is too big for you to miss out on.
If you're 23 and reading this - what are you waiting for? I'm already planning my next adventures in Ireland & New Zealand to visit some of these people, and I haven't even landed in New York yet.