Parents, old high school friends, and distant relatives ask the same questions upon reconnecting with you for the first time in months, or maybe even years: “Do you know what you want to do after college?” Or, if already past this point in life, the question often switches to, “Do you know what you want to do next?”
The answer may be yes: you are doing everything in your power to fit into the life you have planned, and you are skipping down the road to happiness. Striving towards a dream job, family, and social life is completely normal. However, it is also okay not to know where you want to be in ten years.
Whether or not we choose to believe it, not knowing the next step can be a good thing. The ability to discover new ideas and things about yourself is admirable, and no one should be able to tell you that a lack of plans is a lack of determination.
So, just because you have not declared a major or decided what job you wish to have, do not believe that you are somehow behind on the Game of Life. Do not let anyone advise you that you are not working hard enough, or that you “should probably figure it out soon.”
There will always be people ahead of you, but there will also always be people behind you. Instead of becoming flustered when asked the “future plans” question at the next family holiday or high school reunion, turn your uncertainty around and discuss your pursuit of all options, and how you will not stop until you find your passion. Searching for the correct answer will result in more satisfaction than settling for a lesser goal.
“Live in the moment” is not just a cliché phrase recited by yogis and printed across motivational posters. Stressing over the routines that we believe will lead to a perfect life will not only burn us out, but can also result in internal disappointment if not achieved. Living happily day-by-day is one of the only things we can realistically plan; it is a choice to say yes to adventures, taking chances, and enjoying life.
The inevitable feeling of self-pity that accompanies an ambiguous response to a question about the future should disappear as soon as you realize that there are thousands of other people who are also unsure of where they want to end up. Ask just about anyone in your classes, at your workplace, or even on the street -– most will not be able to say with 100 percent certainty that the next phases of their lives are written in concrete.
The only things you can actually plan are the events that will make you happy today, and maybe those that will make you happy tomorrow. Further than that, nobody really knows.
