At 18 years old, it is easy to fall out of love just as quickly as you fall into it. Plans change, people change, and coming to terms with the harsher realities of adulthood breeds disillusionment. The magic of childhood slowly wears and gives way to confusion. No matter how amazing things are going or how exciting this new chapter seems, there are moments of doubt that begin to creep in the midst of it all. These moments are somehow both small and overwhelming, but ultimately what pave the way to a greater recognition and appreciation for the infinite small blessings of life.
Whenever I find myself falling out of love with the world, I think about how different the world is and can be for everyone. There's always something new to experience. There are roughly seven billion people in this world, each with 24 hours in the day (1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds). If every person experiences something different every second, that means approximately 604,800,000,000,000 different potential experiences are available per day for humanity. Of course with this large of a number, there is room for incredible variety in these moments. It is nearly impossible that you are the only person struggling or questioning or feeling lost. Just thinking about the sheer number of different lives being walked is insanely amazing. My one-second mistakes are nothing in light of this, and I have grown to find this perspective both humbling and encouraging.
There are also many things to love and discover. Find something to be passionate about. In any situation, loving another, loving the world, or loving yourself, passion is key. Whether it is a being a super-fan of a sports team, mastering the perfect Warrior 2 position in yoga class, or going to random concerts to discover new bands, passion is what draws others in to you as well. People love to see others care about something. When you find the things that set your heart on fire, hold on tight. These passions bring joy and liveliness into life and bring rediscovery of some of that lost magic. Be present in the moments when you experience these passions and actively seek out ways to grow them further.
The times I actively fall back in love with the world are when individuals are able to convince me that I exist in a corner of theirs. In my short eighteen years, I have learned that happiness can not solely be found in others; however, it is almost impossible to be fulfilled when you isolate yourself. Out of these seven billion people, you are bound to find the ones that encourage you, love you, and remind you how beautiful life can be. Look for the type of friends that sing at the top of their lungs with you in the car and make you pull over to appreciate sunsets. There are seven billion imperfect and wonderful people walking the earth, and if you have not found yours yet, keep searching. Don't settle, don't give obscene amounts of chances to the ones that are not intentionally present in your life in the ways that you strive to be for them. People are good. God is good. Life is good.
And even still it is okay to occasionally acknowledge and accept these times of being out of love. It is more than okay not to have all of the answers at this point. Especially for a self-admitted control freak, this is still one of the hardest lessons to learn. But if after seeking, you find the magic still lacking, fall in love with the unknown. Fall in love with the endless possibilities and places to be found each day. Fall in love with the idea of creating a life that will touch probably thousands of people throughout its course. "It’s just a bad day, not a bad life”, the magic that feels lost is still alive, just waiting to be recreated and rediscovered as we stumble along the way. The world is open and waiting; do good, be good, and don’t be afraid to fall in love.
