Many people aren’t as fortunate as I am. Many let their minds keep them confined to one location.

 

            It wasn’t too long ago when I stayed at home for months on end as the world passed me by. I always found a way to entertain myself, whether it be running, watching the next SpongeBob episode (Or was it Power Rangers?), swimming, or even isolating myself in my corner (as I’m doing as I write this) to write my manuscript for my fiction epic.

            I would continually indulge myself in these activities in an endless loop, never really breaking the pattern. I found it so cool that I was able to drive my beat up 96’ silver Toyota Camry (though my family insists it’s a light green) a solid mile to the nearby pool so I could swim myself to exhaustion. It was awesome stopping to the nearest fast-food place, eating crap food and using my credit card to pay for it. Every once in a blue moon, I’d make the daring trip to the mall, which was a solid 6.2 miles (10k for the runners out there) from my house in order to hang out with friends! And yet again as soon as that massively draining endeavor was finished I would head home and crash in my bed, left to repeat the process yet again.

            There’s nothing wrong with having a routine. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a circle of contentment. And yet, looking back from now, I realized there was a subtle dissatisfaction I continually felt as I lived my life in that circle. I wasn’t depressed, but more unsatisfied. I had plans and goals; however, this loop of what I found to be mediocrity seemed to be getting in the way of doing extraordinary things. It probably didn’t help that I went to a university literally 7 minutes from my home.

            The first time I broke out of this loop was, actually, when a friend of mine introduced me to Tinder. Actually, literally a year ago this happened. Once I downloaded it, as you could imagine a 19-year-old eager beaver, I went on a swiping spree. I matched with this one girl and we started messaging around February, eventually, deciding to hang out together and see how we vibe in person. The place to meet: Grand Central Terminal.

            Ah, crud, I thought. I’m gonna’ have to pay well over $70 for this date for tolls, parking, food, whatever the hell else. Spoken like a true Long Islander who never went to the city on his own. But by God, I was not going to disappoint. I’ll drive myself there, and I’ll be a man and deal with the fees.

            The day came and I took whatever money I had saved from allowance and meal money scavenging from my track events and headed out. Out of that date, I spent a grand total of $5 dollars (And yes, it went really well). The point is that I was newly exposed. Holy crap, you mean I can go places without bleeding myself dry? I thought. Now I tell all my friends that I didn’t realize I had a car until three years after having the freedom to drive one!

            I never had a significant issue with people; they never confined me to one area. Sure, my dad would complain a little and my mom would insist I message her when I arrive, but that’s not really limiting. Rather, it was my mind that kept me confined to this cycle of mediocrity. So then the question is am I out of that cycle of mediocrity?

            Yes, I am, and that’s not just because I broke out of an old routine, but because my mindset shifted. Now I want to continually break out and explore new places and do things in life I would have never imagined in my mediocre loop.

            How do you break out of a loop of mediocrity? I’m sure there are many ways, but I’ve found that one way is to act on the subtle shifts life introduces to you. Taking note of these shifts is so important, and if I could tell you how to identify the right shift to act upon, 1.) I’d be a counselor, and 2.) I’d be the most successful self-improvement counselor out there. All I could say is trust your gut; your gut tends to be right, and that’s coming from one of the most skeptical bastards you’d ever meet. I got lucky that people I’d meet and care about outside the island got me to make those first steps. And it’s because of these people, why I’ve grown so much since, and I am forever grateful for it.

            Don’t let your mind shackle you. It has very interesting ways of making you believe that you’re at your best. The truth is you can always grow, and you deserve to become the best version of yourself.