Stability -vs- Following Your Dreams

I watched an interview from a podcast with artist Kevin Gates and in this interview a caller expressed her lifelong dreams to become a photographer but she felt stuck at her present place of employment because of the “stability” it offers. (see snippet here https://www.instagram.com/tv/CLpbmPRHlgR/?igshid=awlf2dk8z85f ). This snippet really resonated with me because I have been where she is many times before.

The first time I felt this way was while living in Atlanta. I was knee deep in culinary school when my brother-from-another-mother connected me with one of his friends who was an Executive Chef at a downtown restaurant lounge. I couldn't have been more excited and nervous at the same time. Working with the Chef who was from the Caribbean and his Sous Chef who is from Louisiana really ignited and help me to embrace my culinary style and creativity. I then began to work independently on the side booking private chef and catering gigs.

I was sharp and maintained my out the box homestyle cooking flair with gourmet touches. I soon made a name for myself and provided services to celebs, assisted other well known chefs and popular nightlife establishments. I even assisted new establishments with consulting, menu selection, and planning for opening.

After the extremely long hours, where at times, the days would run consecutive to each other and a few bad deals where I was scammed out of my services, I felt burnt out. Something that I loved turned into something that I was unsure of. I decided to take a break and go to corporate life.

Although I still did a few culinary gigs periodically, my corporate life took over. I was settling into the comfortability of so called "stability". I loved the consistency of having a paycheck every week, great benefits including stock options with this great company. I was rocking in my new corporate world; gaining recognition for excelling at meeting goals, being a top performer and my clients loved me because of my great customer service and results driven approach to making sure their needs were met.

But I missed my culinary life. I realized that I was seriously neglecting my creative, artistic soul that thrives spiritually from coming up with amazing food ideas. Not to mention, I craved the satisfaction of seeing the euphoric faces of my clients when that first bite of deliciousness took over their senses. Listen, I'm a Gemini and astrologically Geminis are profoundly creative so the notion of "you don't miss a good thing until its gone" began to swirl in my head like a bad breakup that I was the cause of by being so unappreciative of what I had. I was blessed with the gift of artistic therapeutic service. I felt great mentally when I got in the kitchen and some of these times would turn into 'therapy' sessions for myself and clients while conversing with them as I made beautiful meals. I welcomed them to pull up a chair, pour some wine and chat during the process. My spirit was always full during these times and saved my life on so many levels mentally and emotionally and birthed my venture in Culinary Art Therapy.

So I was asking myself, what am I doing here in corporate? I was stuck. I needed the money, the benefits and the consistency. I was not happy at all. Lord I'm running late again and they don't want to hear excuses and I had to sit there and be reprimanded like a child. I didn't enjoy the stressful competitiveness and the workplace drama at all. That fulfilling energy that culinary arts gave me was absent from my employment. Many of us are there now. We have succumbed to the programming of the notion that to achieve stability you have to go punch a clock. Look at it like this; I'm cultivating someone else's dream 5 days of the week.

What if I began to use the work ethic that my employer demanded of me into my own dreams? So after relocating to another Texas where my job also transferred me and falling back into the employment rut of "stability", I started planning my exit. I was thinking just let me finish out these next 3 months and stack my money so I could really get back to my calling. Well those 3 months were hell at the workplace. There was a manager and his sidekick who began to make my work environment very hostile, frustrating and catty. I later found out that they had issues with me coming in at the pay rate that I was given although I moved to a different position. Any who, I was targeted constantly even to the point where I had to give him a piece of my mind, whoo I went off!!! Well he went even harder to get me out and I was eventually terminated well ahead of my carefully planned exit.

I was heated and my co-workers were shocked and saddened but I instantly felt an overwhelming feeling of awareness. I became consciously aware that the universe was sending me signals that my time there was up. The previous day I watched an episode of the Steve Harvey talk show and he spoke of how sometimes you just have to jump into your purpose and follow your dreams. Then, as I was heading to the front of the building and making my rounds to my amazing co-workers who had tears in their eyes as we exchanged goodbyes, I got the "JUMP" call.

One of my best friends called and wanted to know what my work schedule was because she needed to book me to fly out to Chicago to cater her parents 50th anniversary! I burst into tears as I told her that I had just been fired and was literally walking out the door at that very moment. I couldn't stop thanking her because she gave me the jump I needed. I even offered to give her a discount because I was so appreciative for her reaching out to me when she could have hired a local chef near her. She wouldn't accept my discount and sent my flight itinerary as soon as we got off the phone. It was then that my appreciation for cultivating my gifts and following my dreams began to resonate deeply within my soul. I was booked and busy from that moment on. The cost of stability was feelings of being overworked, stressed and like there was something missing in my spirit and I never wanted to be there again. I was alive

A few years ago I moved back to my hometown Chicago. Well, because I hadn't really had many clients here I decided to temporarily go back to a job in Social Service that I was in good standing with as a receptionist. I made it clear that I was still a Private Chef who traveled on the weekends to service them. They understood and this position was perfect because I worked Monday - Friday, 9-5, perks and off every holiday! Sweet!! My boss who is the Senior VP and is also a dear friend welcomed me with open arms. Well after a couple of untimely exits by her assistants she asked if I would take on the position of being her assistant. I accepted because it was more pay and I knew my friend needed my help. Well wouldn't you know it, once again I'm looking for the exit!! LOL!! The difference this time is that I have an amazing clientele in several states who keep me on my culinary toes, I started my seasoning line and I have been rebuilding and rebranding my company. I chose to not let the work (although can be stressful at times) to rule my world.

As I remembered past experiences of not following my dreams, they taught me that opportunities like this should be utilized as a means to fortifying your purpose. I started a culinary program for the youth that live in the facility and because I know how stressful and challenging the direct care staff have been feeling lately, I am presently creating them a Zen Room to unplug and regroup. No matter where I am or what I am doing, helping and empowering others has always been my love language. I am grateful for having a vice to use to get from one level to the next but this is not where I will fall into the financial stability crab bucket. I want my stability to be well rounded; mentally, spiritually and financially. See I've grown to understand and that, for me, creativity is like an attention seeking child that requires it to be coddled, nurtured and engaged at all times. This, coupled with the limitless possibilities of living in the realm of making your most fulfilling dreams and aspirations manifest can break the "stability" facade so that you can truly love what you do.

Chef Keeba