"Do I do that? I feel like I talk a lot sometimes, then other times I can't figure out what to say. Who am I? I don't ever remember feeling like this..."

When we are young so much time is spent creating ourselves that we don't even realize it. Many of us worry about what others think of us or make sure we do everything possible for people to know that we don't care what they think. Either way, our personality is molded greatly around how others view us. We don't want people to think we have too much of whichever unwanted trait. Many will alter their personality or work on what they want to change, to be more desirable either to themselves or others.

This is much easier in a world succumbed to social media, where it is so easy to filter others' opinions of you. Likewise, people will still view you based on your personality and the way you treat them. We don't notice things like that while we are creating ourselves in our youth. The choices we make and people we surround ourselves with don't only affect your life in the present, but also affect the person you will be in the future.

This isn't to say people never change; we do every day. A flower is the best representation of growth. No matter how many layers of thick, nasty dirt it grows through, no matter how tall it grows, how many petals break off, it flourishes from the roots, the stem and the journey. The result is beautiful and unique, even if its path is all but so. The roots and stem are what supports the flower and makes it what it is seen to be. Are you sensing the connection here?

Of course, humans are much different. We mingle and grow together. Unlike the flower, which will grow on its own, our growth is severely impacted by social connections or lack thereof. I believe this is why we have this huge epidemic of 20-somethings going out to create a new life and "find yourself."

By this age, people, places and things, in general, have all changed. When you go from being the reflection of your best friend, to not even having their number, you start to wonder, "How has time done this to me?" We thought we had plenty of time to figure it out. You saw yourself heading in this direction, but you didn't think to turn, you were just living. Now when life pushes you to the fork in the road, you must choose which path will take you where you want to be in life. I do believe God has a plan for us all, but it's never set in stone. Do we make our own destiny or is God's path for me truly filled with all of this darkness?

Well, here is my theory; God's always there to guide you, while the devil continuously temps you and darkens your path. This creates another fork in the road, every time. We must choose to travel on within the devil's darkness or choose what we know is right in our hearts and let God lead the way. The latter usually seems like the hard way because you have to create a new path.

I'm not going holy on you, friends. While I have my beliefs, I know everyone else's will be different. This logic could apply to anything. Who we are in life is affected by our decisions to give into temptation or sacrifice, for whatever may be at risk.

Throughout my life, I've made my fair share of decisions, good and bad. At the time, you don't know that you're changing the course of your life forever. You don't realize you've gone left when you should have veered right. We are always left wondering, "What would have happened if I chose something else?" I realize now that when I chose to make sacrifices or didn't do something I really wanted to, I still wondered, "What if?"

I don't know where or who I would be had I made different choices in the past. I definitely wouldn't be half of the person I am today. I needed to make mistakes because I learned from them. I am a little wiser now. I needed to sacrifice for people I love because I am a little more caring than before. I need to wonder, "What if?" sometimes, in order to think about my choices and make better decisions.

So we need to follow the light, but it's OK to fall into darkness sometimes. That's how we appreciate the light and figure out the best way to turn at those forks in the road. All flowers travel through dirt, but none come out exactly the same. Try your best, follow your gut, but most importantly, live and grow!