I woke up around 7:45 a.m. every day, got ready, and made sure I was out the door by 8:10. The other volunteers and I always took the same path to the van—past the rocky beach and three restaurants, onto the hill. Everything felt so serene and peaceful, a scene far different from that of New York City.
I'd always thought it was normal to constantly chase after your objectives and goals—to pursue growth. This was the first time I actually stood still and appreciated all that I had. I went to work every day, interacted with customers and other volunteers, and then came back home and relaxed at the beach. Life had balance: I did work I found very fulfilling, and I enjoyed the rest of my day too. I realized I found something that I'd never had before: stability.
Initially, I found it a little difficult to adjust to a routine, since I was so used to chaos. Normally, thinking about being subject to a 9-to-5 for the rest of my life would send me into a panicked spiral. However, this time I decided to acknowledge the fear and continue with my day anyway. I always had a habit of letting emotions control me, rather than thinking through them logically, but this time I simply told myself that the work was worth it, and that was enough to get me through. Eventually, I became comfortable with the new routine, the new sense of stability. I started to embrace the simple things—long walks, group dinners, small talk. My brain finally settled down and stopped craving constant dopamine rushes. I'd finally reached the next level of maturity.