Fleeting Goals and Leaving Family

Dear friends,

When you have a goal that seems insurmountable, and you accomplish it, it is fascinating just how fleeting the elation lasts.

I graduated high school this week, a task that I have been working at for my entire life at this point, and, well, I just feel normal. I am still me, I still live at home, I still have the same friends and the same family. Nothing really changes except for the fact that I have an odd cap and gown in my dresser and a new piece of paper in a fancy case that people call a diploma.

At the same time, everything changes.

This morning, I leave on a cross country climbing road trip with my best friend, Nathan Bigelow. I actually interviewed him on The Grateful Podcast in January if you want to check it out. We have been talking about this trip for four whole years, and we are finally hopping in the car and doing it.

This is the beginning of something that will never end— leaving my family to do my own thing, make my own impact in the world.

It feels odd being a bird leaving the nest. I mean, I already kind of did it when I went to France for my Junior year of high school, but this is different.

I find this graph above fascinating. It shows us the amount of time that we spend with certain groups of people as we age. What I find very sad is how I am at the very end of the most time with my family.

The people that are mostly responsible for who I am, they are going to be the ones that see me the least, reap the least benefits of their work so to speak.

My parents would argue against that, they say that my sister and I are the greatest gifts they could ask for, but it makes me sad to think that I am leaving them after all of their hard work.

It is crazy that, at the end of the thing I have been working at my entire life, this is what I am doing and thinking about. I am writing an article of remorseful gratitude for my parents, and reflecting on who I have become.

I wish that my younger self could see me now. He would be so proud. I am so proud.

Speaking of seeing me, I buzzed my hair before my trip.

Check my YouTube if you want to see what it looks like.

I will be off of Instagram and other socials for the remainder of June. I will still write weekly newsletters and there will be two episodes of The Grateful Podcast each week. Get ready. Let the fun begin.


The Grateful Podcast:

I have a podcast where I interview people much smarter and more qualified than me talking about how you can live a more purposeful life full of gratitude and ambition. 
I release episodes every Monday where I go over a lesson I’ve recently learned.

Every Wednesday and Saturday I release an episode with a very cool guest. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or find the video version on YouTube.

Coaching:

If you’re ready to take action and need guidance, I’d love to help.

I have limited space available so if you’re interested, book a free 15-minute call with me to discuss your dreams and how to start making them happen. 

You can shoot me an email at [email protected] where we can get scheduled.

Make this week rock. Thank you so much for reading this; I’ll see you next week.

With love,

Jack Wagoner