If you are anything like me, you just graduated college. First of all, congrats; that’s a huge accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself! Second of all, you are probably being bombarded by your family and friends with questions of, “What are you doing next?” or, “Do you have a job lined up?”

My answer to those questions are always a sly smile, a wink, and, “It’s a surprise.” Sometimes people get wide-eyed and think that I’m on to something big. No, I’m not. It’s just easier than explaining to everyone that I don’t actually have any plans. I think I avoid explaining my lack of plans because I can see the judgment in the eyes of my extended family and even some friends. Frankly, I was judging myself for a while as well. I always thought I had would have some sort of job lined up, and my transition from a college student to a working young adult would be seamless. Life doesn’t always work out the way you dreamed it would though.

I don’t have a job lined up. I don’t know where I’m going to live next. I don’t even know what I’m eating for dinner tonight, and I actually like my life this way. It’s exciting, and I’ve never been one to stick to one plan for myself anyway. I’m only 22 and there is no way that I have life figured out. I’m still trying to figure out how to wash my clothes in an actual washing machine instead of just using Febreze (sorry to everyone who had to sit by me in class, yes I’m kind of gross).

Now I’ve opened up different opportunities for myself that I never considered looking into before. Instead of going to work from 9-5, I’ve been traveling and seeing old friends that moved away a long time ago. Instead of hurried lunch breaks, I attempt a Pinterest recipe with my best friend. Instead of dressing business professional, I’m trying different trends or hanging out in my pajamas all day. I’m learning to love myself in different ways.

I’ve learned to enjoy the simple things in life that I had no time for in college and definitely wouldn’t have time for while working a full time job. We have been taught that we have to plan ahead, that we have to have to live our lives a certain way, and if we don’t fit that mold, then we are failures. That’s wrong though; I haven’t failed, you haven’t failed.

As Robert Frost once said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” It’s cliche, yes, but still holds truth. Don’t get down about not having plans. Continue to take the road less traveled. Learn more about your young adult self.

Life is too short and too complicated to fret over a planned lifestyle that didn’t pan out, so enjoy the surprises.