#LifeisaJourney

So today I had a dear friend of mine turn to facebook pleading for advice because he hadn't figured out what he wanted to do with his life yet and he felt he should have everything planned out by now.

Wrong. For starters life doesn't ever have that smooth period our elementary teachers told us about. You know the one where becoming an adult instantly makes you mature, where getting a job is easy for whoever finished college, where life calms down? It's a lie. There are even people with jobs who don't know what their life is doing. There are "old" people at college. There are people who havn't ever gone to college who feel pretty secure in their lifestyles and choices. Most of the time stress about where your life is going is inevitable and it's ok.

Because life isn't a checklist. It's a journey.
It doesn't matter how fast you get a degree, or get a job, or get a house. It might be nice to have those things sooner than later, but it isn't the end of the world or even bad if you don't have those things as fast as you want or as fast as the people around you. What would the point be? College done by 22 check, got a job check, married by 30 check, own house by 28 check, 2 children check, retired by 60 check, died sometime after 80 check... And you have won the game folks! No. It isn't like that.
I went to class with a respectable man with a job and no address. He lived out of his van and he was like 28. He was happy, he had been living like that for three years. He has a great job. Why is he living out of his van? Because he loves to travel and climb. He spends his money on vacation and recreation instead of on a house. He isn't a failure, and he isn't homeless either.
I have multiple friends who havn't started school "on time" and they are just fine. Some took time to serve missions, some to travel, some to work, some to go to the army. They are not behind, they are just different. Just because they are not on the stereotypical path does not mean they are on the wrong path.

Which brings me back to my point. That life isn't about the checklist.
It is about progress, satisfaction, and happiness.
Think about it. Do you really care about the mansion, the 6-figure job, or the degree? When you die, if you could look at your life after it's over, will you really be bumed that you didn't finish college around the same time everybody else did? I highly doubt it. I think instead you would be really upset if you didn't take time to do what you love. I think you would look at all the things that brought you to the place you are now and the places you will yet go and be greatful for the tangents that helped you get to where you ended up being. I think you would regret not progressing, not growing into somebody better and wiser than who you were. Above all else, looking back on life you will regret not being happy and all the things you did to prevent yourself from being happy.

So change your perspective today. Stop worrying about figuring everything out right this second, stop worrying about not being in the same spot as somebody else. Look at yourself holistically- at the journey you are on instead of the exact point you are at now. Make sure you have enough for today and then focus on what is important. Focus on becoming a better, happier person.

~Birdy