For the past year, it has seemed like everything in my life has happened differently from how I wanted or imagined; there was a story I had carefully and thoughtfully written for myself, and life basically ripped up the pages and wrote a story of its own, full of suspense and plot twists. However, it occurred to me recently that similar to how authors must change aspects of their story hundreds of times until it is ready to be published, it is the job of life to be my editor. What I had written for myself may not have been the best version of the story that I wanted to tell, and maybe life fixed it to make it worth reading.
Sometimes it feels like the entire world is plotting against you, doing everything in its power to prevent you from succeeding. You go through the pages of your story, and then next thing you know, life throws a curve-ball that leaves you shaken and unprepared for what comes next. It is in moments like this that is important to remember that we can’t control the events that take place in our lives, but we can control our reactions to them. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a missed opportunity, or an event that you are completely unprepared for, it is up to you to take the change in stride and continue making your way through the story.
Throughout my story, I have wanted certain things at specific times, but I have realized that not getting everything you want and expect allows you to grow as a person; you become appreciative of the things that you have gotten while learning the true value of the things that you did not. Occasionally not getting what you want allows you to enforce the idea of what you do want. You don’t know a good thing until it is gone, but sometimes it is the absence of something that allows you to understand its true significance in your life. Working towards the goal reminds you to put in twice as much effort as before until you get what you desire. You are the one writing your story; the things that are meant to happen will happen because you have the power to make them happen. Work hard everyday to accomplish your goals, and don’t give up because you did not get what you wanted on your first try. Just because we wait for something does not mean that our wait will end when we expect it to.
When it feels like everything is going wrong, hold onto all of the things that have gone right. Would you stop reading a story just because one chapter is not as great as the rest? Embrace the evolution of your story, because nothing is better than watching yourself grow and change into something better over time. When you begin reading a story, you are introduced to several different characters, but not all characters make it to the end of the story. Similarly, the people in our lives that we expect to stay with us forever are the ones who are written out of our stories because they are no longer vital to the execution of the plot. Let these people go once they have served their purpose in your life and don’t look back. If you keep rereading the previous chapters, you will not be able to embrace all the wonderful aspects of the upcoming one.
All authors write stories, but only special authors write multiple variations and choose from the best one. The variations of our stories are presented to us in the form of choices, and it is through the choices we make that our story progresses; choose wisely. Circumstance is the villain of your story, and it is your mission to defeat it and give yourself the happy ending you deserve. Embrace the irony of life. Appreciate the twists and turns that your life takes, and look for the good in every situation you are in. Do not jump to conclusions in regards to what is to come; always have a backup plan in case things do not go the way you expect. In fact, have a backup plan for your backup plan. Always take initiative to make your dreams come true; take responsibility for the things that go wrong, and take credit that is deserved when things go right.
You are the author of your story, but do not get discouraged when life edits the pages. Every story must be changed and rewritten until it has reached its full potential, and your story deserves to be nothing shy of perfect.
