Now What?
What happens when you achieve a long-sought goal, but sadness is the uppermost feeling? We’re heading into the off season for riding competition in Virginia, and I typically use it for a bit of a rest and recovery before starting the long preparation for the Spring. But what if you have achieved all you set to accomplish, and the future is uncertain? I think that this might be what taking the step into retirement feels like. Your wealth grows to a point that you can stop working if you want to, but you still feel unsure of whether you want to or not, because any change, no matter how exciting, can still be met with mixed emotions.
Last summer, after an eight-year long effort, Waitara and I achieved my goal of earning the Bronze Medal from the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). In order to be granted this award, you have to earn qualifying scores at three different levels (First, Second and Third) of the sport from different judges at two different shows. For the past year, I have been wrestling with the “Now What?”
I’ve put the decision off in multiple ways: setting smaller interim goals, buying a second horse (it didn’t work out), improving my riding. But we’re back here again to the Now What. The Now What is both uncertain and scary. The obvious answer is to set new goals, but setting a new goal isn’t always immediately possible or may require more effort than you are willing to give. In my case, the next big goal would be to work towards my Silver Medal, which would be to achieve qualifying scores in Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges. It is a big leap between Third and Fourth level, and while I know I can make the leap, I’m not as sure about my friend and partner, Waitara. So for the past year, I have been riding towards immediate small goals — qualify for regionals, qualify for the schooling show championship, work towards year end awards. But looming over everything is the next big goal and all the questions that go along with it.
But maybe the Now What is meant to be scary. We’re meant to push ourselves past our comfort zone to see what we are capable of achieving. But doing that takes energy and commitment and drive, and sometimes it feels like it is a bit too much to ask of yourself. And that’s okay. It is okay to take a minute and feel the sadness and the joy of the phase that is passing. As you decide on your next big goal be it in sport, schooling, career, or retirement and step out into the unknown, remember that we don’t travel alone. Our coaches, friends, family, and, dare I say, our financial advisors are there to cheer us on as we embark on new adventures.
West Financial Services, Inc. (“WFS”) offers investment advisory services and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the firm has attained a particular level of skill or ability. You should carefully read and review all information provided by WFS, including Form ADV Part 1A, Part 2A brochure and all supplements, and Form CRS.