Week 10 - The hope of a better tomorrow

The second half of Man’s Search for Meaning focuses on the concept of logotherapy. In contrast from introspection and retrospection, logotherapy requires the individual to focus on their future, and the fact that there is someone or something relying on them. In the book that references subjects in concentration camps, they realized they had family members waiting for them to leave the camps, so they could be reunited in a future time. This provided a will to live, not because of how life had been treating them previously, but the promise that purpose was waiting for them to fulfill a need in the future.

I always believe that the universe has an interesting way of speaking to me, specifically with the timing of events. I have been considering the opportunity of going back into school to get my instructor license as a barber. The funny thing is that I have been in the industry long enough, and I could simply take a test with the state board to get the license. There is no further requirement for me to get a formal education, however, I think about the value I want to get out of the process. I’ve been thinking about the person that the additional education would provide me. Some have argued the fact that it would be me simply relearning a lot of things that have already been taught. I would argue that it is an opportunity to focus on foundational lessons that I learned over a decade ago, but with an understanding of what those foundational lessons can actually teach. When I joined the industry, I knew nothing about it. All of my lessons were getting small sips of water from the fire hose being sprayed directly at me, and most of my education was learning what not to do a second time. This seems more like an opportunity to check my ego, go back to the basics, and have an opportunity to share real world experiences to a generation of students that are going through the same thing I previously went through. The jury is still out on how excited I am about transitioning into 70 hour work weeks, but I think the deliberation is starting to come to an end.

The real question in this educational pursuit, is what would I use it for? Well, to start, the other barbers in my shop have also spent enough time in the industry to simply test with the state board, but they would need someone to help them prepare. I could get them set up for a better future by taking on the burden of a formal education. Additionally, this could allow me an opportunity to do something different in my shop, than what any other shop is currently doing. The laws in Idaho are interesting, and there is something I discovered that I have the ability to do if I hit certain requirements, and I need two instructors in a shop in order to accomplish it. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Likely, because I know the capacity of that future version of myself will have with regards to lifting others up, and that is an opportunity I don’t want to squander.