OYM Day 88: Do/Deliver

Yesterday, a woman asked me what I did, as in what do I do for a living. With my position at my current company coming to a close later this month, it was the first time in about 10 years that I didn’t launch into my 60 second elevator pitch about my job. Instead, I just stared, unblinking. What do I do? I know what I did and what I’ve done. But what am I doing? Now? Thankfully, the woman filled in the silence by telling me about what she did and I happily asked follow up questions, pushing my own identity closer and closer to the exit.

Why we ask each other what we do is a discussion in and of itself, but it’s been had many times before. The question doesn’t bother me unless I’m the one being asked. I ask people what they do all the time. I like to hear about what people do and what they think I’m referring to when I ask. You could say you are an esthetician. That’s something you can do. Or you could say that you eat, sleep, poop, and repeat. People do those things. Maybe you mop your floors obsessively, or hide fun sized bags of candy around the house. That’s also something I do — I mean, people do. Truly, there’s a lot you can do.

But I’m on the verge of doing something new. I can feel it in my bones. It’s already started, but just now I’m beginning to lose sight of the shore and find myself almost completely out to sea. I love the sea, so it’s pretty great, but also a little scary. But more than scary, it’s liberating. I wonder who I’ll become. What I’ll be. What I’ll do.

Years ago I was telling a friend about the power of the word “deliver.” In my mind, you can either do…or deliver. You can do the thing you set out to do or you can nail that shit. You can do it beyond your own expectations. Deliver. You didn’t just do it. You done did it. So well. You delivered.

I want to deliver. I like that “live” is in the word. And “deli.”

My boat is out to sea and I’m making a delivery. The details are still hazy, but they’re clearer by the day.