"What do you do for work now?" asks a friend who I haven't seen in decades.

We are walking across a bridge at Disney Springs. The air smells like a mélange of foods; the atmosphere a cacophony of conversations and excited squeals.
"I write stories to win work to better our communities." I say.
She looks at me puzzled.
"I'm a Marketing Specialist for a multi-disciplinary engineering firm." I clarify.
A few moments of, slightly uncomfortable, silence passes before she says "So, I don't mean to sound rude but, have you given up on being ... you know ... you?"
The statement stops me dead in my tracks. My initial reaction was one of intense insult. How could she say something like that to me!? Does she think that I just threw in a proverbial towel and cried "That's it world, I can't handle the pressure of being me! I'm going to go work for an engineering firm and be someone else?"
I walk over to the side of the bridge and look out onto a bustling shopping area. The sun has been tucking itself in for about 15 minutes now and darkness is enveloping us in our own cozy blanket. The lights of Springs sparkle in the water below, providing a mirror effect. Two different visions of the same view. One, busy, and shining; boisterous and musical. The other, whimsical and silent; with a steady ripple that distorts the image and makes it look as though it's being seen through a crystal ball.
"Once upon a time, there was a man who had a vision." I said "He was a storyteller and he wanted to tell all of the stories that he dreamed in his sleep. But he had to sell other people on that vision. He had to find a way to get everyone to see the future he saw. It wasn't enough to just tell the stories, he had to make others lean in and want to help him bring these stories to life. He had to find people to build the buildings, the roads, and the transportation to make his dreams reality."
I felt her shift her weight and sigh. "I love you Becky, but where are you going with this?"
"Just hear me out." I told her. "When your bus pulled into Springs tonight, how did it know where to go? When you walked in, you mentioned how neat all the buildings were laid out. The water features and the trees. The birds and fish who make this lake their home. Even the plane you took to get here. Have you ever thought about the stories behind how all of these things come together to bring you here?"
"No." She said. "I never thought that there was a "story" behind any of that."
"Well, it's my job to find those stories. To explain to people how work that my company has done has bettered the community. How we have developed new technology that helps make our roadways, our airports, our communities safer. How we plan out neighborhoods so that they are more equitable and so more people have access to things we take for granted. How we work to not destroy but save/study/and rehome different animal species so that our clients can make an impact without making a negative impact on them. Even how we can help those from away find the joy they seek when coming to visit Orlando."
"I really never thought about that. So, you really haven't given up telling stories. You just tell them differently now?"
"Exactly! During my workday, I get to play Sherlock Holmes; finding stories in places you wouldn't think exist. When work is done, I get to tell my own through my puppets, crafts, theatre, and all of the other creative outlets I have. It's a win-win!" I say.
Another long pause. I could sense that the wheels were churning as we silently watched the hustle and bustle of the vacationers around us.
"I'm glad you took the time to tell me that." She said. "I had honestly thought you had given up on you but, after hearing that, you are more you than ever before."
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I've had to reinvent myself many times over my lifetime. Each time, there is always the grief of leaving behind a person that you have come to know and live with when you look at that mirror. Some of my past selves I miss. Experiences I will never have again. Faces who were once dear friends, now a blurry memory. However, the older I get, the more that I realize that I am not leaving them behind. Every new iteration of "Becky" brings along the stories, experiences, and heart of the old me; building an even more well-rounded person to tackle that next adventure.
In a sea of unknowns, in a time of flux, in a future of uncertainty; Remember you can always reinvent yourself and introduce your current you to all of your past selves to create that epic future you!
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