Why would you wish that on me?
I never want to act my age
What's my age again?
What's my age again?" - Blink 182
Okay, I know I did not finish the thankful for a month posts, but other things took priority. Did I ever mention how short of an attention span I can have?
Anyways, lately my thoughts focus on how things are drastically changing for people my age (If nothing tells you about my age, the fact that I listen to Blink 182 should). It seems almost every time I log into Facebook someone is either pregnant or getting married. When I go home, my fiance's parents tell me so and so is having a baby or engaged. Seriously, right now I feel like pregnancy is a disease. That is not to say it's not a beautiful thing, but right now, babies are not what I want. However, the other group continues to grow, those who are getting married, and now I fit into this category as well. It feels weird somehow like it snuck up on me. I see others years younger than I get married or have children, and it's hard to believe we may be at that age where it's time to start families. Are we really there already? For all of us, no some probably are not. Yet, here I sit now with a ring on my finger, soon to marry the love of my life, and not so long ago this seemed impossible.
Reflecting upon the past and how things change for others, I am so grateful that this is where my life headed towards. There were many chances for it to dive and blow up like a nuclear disaster. A very old friend contacted me yesterday. Over the years, we went our separate ways, because we each traveled a different path than the other. Life changes. We changed, but sadly, life did not go upwards for her. Instead, a series of extremely unfortunate events happened, because of poor decisions, drugs, and losing control. It can happen to anyone. Still, it's sad to see someone's life torn to shreds. When I asked her originally how she was, she responded she did not want to tell me, because it sounded embarrassing compared to how my life is going. That's why this subject is still strongly impressed upon me today.
Question: How many times do we try to plan our lives out?
I do not know about the rest of you, but I have constantly tried to sketch out my life the way I want it.
Next question: How often does life work out the way you plan it?
As far as my life and the others I know close to me, life never goes the way we planned it. For some, it ends up better; for some, it's worse.
For example, I planned to go to UMBC for four years, get a job, possibly get married, and then down the road have a few kids. Thus far, I transferred to Purdue, am still in the process of graduating, and am getting married next year. That's quite a change. Through this I learned not to plan everything, and I really do not anymore. Next summer, I have no clue what is going on. Besides a few things, I cannot plan a month from now, because life is ever-changing. Finally, I think I learned something quite valuable.
Dabbling in the future leads to trouble. We end up disappointed, saddened, or wondering where we went wrong sometimes. Honestly, for those I see who live out their lives the way they planned (or theirs parents have) seem awfully boring and colorless. Too many things are expected, and they lack adventures, learning new things, and many priceless opportunities.
The plan was always graduate high school, college, marry, and then have kids; I hear this for quite a few people. It's engrained is us through society and through our families. Very few of us live this formula, and I never will. Switch things around, delete one, add another, and make life your own. Do not let anyone ever tell you what your life should look like unless you are unhappy with it. I love my life, and I am excited to see where it takes not only me but my family. Soon, I will have my own, and in an odd ball way, my dreams are coming true.
If I have anything worth listening to today, this is it. Live for you, create your own beautiful story, and do it all to make yourself happy.
Well said. I love you so much and I am so proud of you!
ReplyDeleteAnd seriously, buy a swiffer. They are amazing.