Let go of the spoon!

Created by Kaylea Hascall (University of Chicago) on March 12, 2009

I'm working from home today, nursing a cold and minding my 7-month-old daughter while I take phone calls, catch up on e-mails, and draft some long-overdue proposals. At lunchtime, I pulled out her favorite food -- strained pears. I poked the first spoonful into her suspicious mouth and waited for the inevitable grin of recognition. Her immediate reaction was to seize the spoon with both hands and hold it firmly in her mouth. I tried to convince her to let go. "Stella, I can't give you any more pears if you don't let go of the spoon." I waved the jar at her. No luck. She loved pears, but she wasn't going to get another drop to eat if she didn't let go. I eventually had to pry her hands off, which made her cry. Her open mouth gave me an opportunity to poke in another bite. She stopped crying, mouthed happily at the new spoonful, and we resumed our usual lunch routine.

The same thing happens to the taller and older among us -- we get a taste of a job, a project, an activity that we enjoy, and we lock our hands on to it and don't want to let go. Sometimes, though, the only way to get more of something we enjoy is to let go of the sure thing, and get ready for what's next. Sometimes, you have to let go of the spoon.

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		Let go of the spoon! Created by Kaylea Hascall (University of Chicago) on March 12, 2009 I'm working from home today, nursing a cold and minding my 7-month-old daughter while I take phone calls, catch up on e-mails, and draft some long-overdue proposals. At lunchtime, I pulled out her favorite food -- strained pears. I poked the first spoonful into her suspicious mouth and waited for the inevitable grin of recognition. Her immediate reaction was to seize the spoon with both hands and hold it firmly in her mouth. I tried to convince her to let go. "Stella, I can't give you any more pears if you don't let go of the spoon." I waved the jar at her. No luck. She loved pears, but she wasn't going to get another drop to eat if she didn't let go. I eventually had to pry her hands off, which made her cry. Her open mouth gave me an opportunity to poke in another bite. She stopped crying, mouthed happily at the new spoonful, and we resumed our usual lunch routine. The same thing happens to the taller and older among us -- we get a taste of a job, a project, an activity that we enjoy, and we lock our hands on to it and don't want to let go. Sometimes, though, the only way to get more of something we enjoy is to let go of the sure thing, and get ready for what's next. Sometimes, you have to let go of the spoon. career \| musing \| Professional Development Kaylea's blog Login or register to post comments 171 reads
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