Guides
I dropped out of college at age 19 to pursue music. At least that's what I told myself. I never pursued it with the hunger of a starving artist, or the seriousness of a career. The real reason I dropped out is that I couldn't live under the structure or responsibility of school. I was running away from past, and using weed and alcohol to escape.
I saw friends graduate once, twice, and start their careers. I was behind. I saw an acquaintance become a pop star — she was both more talented and harder working than I ever was. And I saw some of my favorite musicians tour endlessly in order to make a living. None of them knew it, but they were all guides to me. I wanted a career, but not in music. I couldn't live on the road touring. It would have killed me.
I went back to college at 26 years old, this time with a renewed focus. One of my early required classes was World Religions, taught by Jim Findlay. I was somewhat interested in the class, but mostly there to check off a requirement on the way to a degree. Much to my surprise, it became my favorite class, not because of the subject matter but because of Jim. I'd never met anyone so full of energy about a topic. He was doing what he loved, and found wonder in it. He found intellectual engagement, which I found through him.
I attended office hours and spoke to him about different religions, exploring my own spirituality through intellectual debate. I discovered Buddhism and meditation through the class. Jim loved the loud celebration of a Christian church, and thought meditation was too quiet, too solemn. It didn't work for him, but it worked for me. He didn't know it, but he was an important guide at a critical moment.
Occasionally a guide will drop into your life. You may know them directly, or you may know them indirectly through their work. Learning about the lives, interests, and curiosities of others has provided me many guides. They have changed the trajectory of my life.
In school, I was lucky enough to meet Jim. Later I had another professor, Dr. Bill Roberts, who taught Environmental Economics, which set me on the path to study the business of climate. And in grad school I had a business professor, John Greathouse, who I later worked with. Yes, they were all teachers, but more importantly they were guides on the path to becoming me.
No matter where you are in your life, you can be a guide too. At any moment you can have a positive impact on someone, guiding them to a better life.
If you're lucky, you'll meet a few of those people, and be a guide to a few more.
Who you are and what you do matters.