Over the past few weeks I’ve begun to notice a trend in my life: routine. With no school obligations, daunting emails, or looming assignments, I have a lot of free time. I wake up early (I know I’m becoming an adult because I secretly enjoy this), I eat breakfast and drink coffee, I head to the gym where I say “hello” to the same worker every day and run alongside the same group of people. I then head to my summer job, and if I’m not working I still make my way to my place of employment and lay out for the day (perks of working at a pool).
I have no worldly trips booked, crazy adventures planned, or awesome internships lined up. Additionally, my hometown is quite possibly the most boring town in the entire United States. I have friends scattered all around the globe doing awesome things and, here I am, having a painstakingly average summer.
In the midst of all of this, I began to resent myself. I’m twenty years old, there are so many other things I could be out doing right now! Why am I sitting in the middle of nowhere doing nothing?
But then one night I rewatched “Paper Towns” and was inspired by a quote at the end of the movie: “So maybe we won’t ever win the lottery, or marry royalty, or make that last second shot. That doesn’t mean we won’t have amazing adventures, meet exceptional people, and make indelible memories. The trick is to notice before it’s too late.”
Thanks, John Green.
Maybe I won’t use my passport this summer, live in a big city, or even go to a beach, but who cares? That doesn’t make my summer any less worthwhile or meaningful than anyone else’s. This time next year I’ll be applying for a real world job and trying to learn how to adult. I should enjoy my last carefree summer while I still can.
OK, carefree is a stretch. I’m working almost everyday, heading to camp in July, leaving my childhood home and moving to a new house, turning 21, and visiting Colorado. So, maybe I do have a few things to look forward to. Although they may not be extremely glamorous, they’ll be spent with people I love.
In case you feel like you’re stuck in the routine of an average summer as well, know that life isn’t always an award winning show deserving of an encore, but that’s OK. We’d be exhausted and rundown after awhile if that were the case.
“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful," said LR Knost.
So, whether your summer (or life) is currently amazing or awful, eventful or mundane, appreciate whatever season you’re in. Don’t wish away your current days longing for something more. Return tickets have a set date, summers end, and something new will be around the corner before you know it.
