There
are a lot of things you expect to have accomplished by the time you turn 30. As
a teenager you think, one day I will have things figured out. I will know
exactly who I am and what I want out of life. I will find the perfect career
and the man/woman of my dreams. I will have my own house and a car and maybe a few
pets. I will be well on my way to having a couple of kids. Life will be so
different.
But
then, next thing you know, you’re only 3 years away from the big 3 0 and have
done exactly zero of those things.
Sure, you graduated from high school, and yeah, you went to college like you were supposed to. But you majored in business because you couldn’t decide what else to do. Now you’re working as a bona fide secretary, a job which only requires a high school diploma equivalent and pays only slightly better than working as a cashier at a fast food restaurant. You would look for a job in another field if you knew what else you wanted to do, but you don’t.
Sure, you graduated from high school, and yeah, you went to college like you were supposed to. But you majored in business because you couldn’t decide what else to do. Now you’re working as a bona fide secretary, a job which only requires a high school diploma equivalent and pays only slightly better than working as a cashier at a fast food restaurant. You would look for a job in another field if you knew what else you wanted to do, but you don’t.
As
for your love life, forget it. You haven’t been on a date in years and the
prospects are not looking good. You may very well die alone. And kids? Not
likely to happen anytime soon.
You
live with your parents because… well, frankly you can’t afford to live on your
own. It seems like a sweet deal, only pay a few bills and live in the basement
in your own little “apartment”, which works out great until people feel free to
let themselves in whenever they want and when everyone calls you when you’re out because
they know you’re not home. Not that you stay out late very often because you
have to get up for work at 5 a.m.
If
your teenage self could see you now…
Does
this sound familiar to anyone?
I’ve spent the last few years of my life watching my friends, Facebook and real-life, getting married and having kids, buying their own homes and working in fields they love. And here’s me, not doing any of that. I've envied those who appear to have things figured out. And maybe (probably) they don’t either. But they blind us all with their smokescreens of happy marriages and babies.
I’ve spent the last few years of my life watching my friends, Facebook and real-life, getting married and having kids, buying their own homes and working in fields they love. And here’s me, not doing any of that. I've envied those who appear to have things figured out. And maybe (probably) they don’t either. But they blind us all with their smokescreens of happy marriages and babies.
HOWEVER, after all of my initial complaining (see above), I’ve
come to realize that life is never going to be some picture perfect dream sequence. Most
likely I won’t be married nor ready to have kids at 30, and I’ll probably still
be working in the same job 3 years from now. And that’s okay!
From now on, I'm turning over a new leaf. No more feeling sorry for myself because I won't be hitched by my 10 year high school reunion! No more sulking because my friends make more money than I do! My life is pretty great and it's time to just enjoy the ride.
I'm almost 27 years old and I've decided to dedicate the next three years to figuring out my true passion in life. I like to read those 30 before 30 lists and I may make one of my own. But my main goal is to take chances. I'm a bit shy and my confidence could use some work but I am determined not to let fear stop me. I'm on a mission to find myself.
From now on, I'm turning over a new leaf. No more feeling sorry for myself because I won't be hitched by my 10 year high school reunion! No more sulking because my friends make more money than I do! My life is pretty great and it's time to just enjoy the ride.
I'm almost 27 years old and I've decided to dedicate the next three years to figuring out my true passion in life. I like to read those 30 before 30 lists and I may make one of my own. But my main goal is to take chances. I'm a bit shy and my confidence could use some work but I am determined not to let fear stop me. I'm on a mission to find myself.
If somewhere along the way I also find my prince of nothing charming
(love Tyler Hilton), then great! But if not, I want to at least reach 30 with a
better understanding of what I want to do with the rest of my life.
I
decided to start this blog to document my journey to self-discovery. It won’t
be of Eat, Pray, Love caliber, but we’ve all got to start somewhere right?
