For a lot of us, growing up is a series of pre-planned steps.
OK... so I’m in preschool. This is pretty nice, a lot of toys and songs and happiness. I love playing with blocks and learning colors. Life is good. OK so... now what? OK, now I need to get ready for grade school. I need to fully learn the alphabet and simple math skills. I need to learn how to spend a full day in school.
OK... so now I’m in grade school. Im making a lot of great friends, learning to love books and recess. I’m getting more and more confident. Life is good. OK so... now what? Now I have to prepare myself for high school. I need to get ready for all of the time commitments like sports, homework, clubs and friends.
OK... so now I’m in high school. This is exactly like everyone said it would be, the good and the bad. I have a summer job. I’m gaining independence. I managed to get through my teenage years without a total mental breakdown. Life is good. OK so... now what? Now I have to apply to college! This is so exciting. I’m finally going to to be in a place where I can spread my wings.
OK... so now I’m in college. Wow. Love. It. Interesting people. Interesting experiences. Fun times. Figuring out who I am. The world is my oyster! Life is good. OK so... now what?
I have no idea.
I’ve always had an answer to the “now what?” question. It was always an assurance and a necessity. I always seemed to have a next step. A list of goals to check off. Accomplishments to be made, grades to be kept, and challenges to be won. Now, whenever the “now what?” question comes up, I can’t help but feel anxious. The world is my oyster! Exactly... the world is my oyster and I have no idea what to do with that oyster. I have no idea where I will be going after college, who I will be meeting, where I will be working. This can happen to anyone at any age. You could be 60 years old, or 30 or 90 and have no idea what the next steps should be. And that’s OK.
Although it’s so scary not knowing, it’s also very freeing. There’s not a set schedule for life anymore. It’s time for you to take the reigns. Make your own goals and check lists. And as much as we like to complain about not knowing, I really believe it gives us a chance to put our individual values and skills into action.
So... now what? So now the goal should be to do the best we can. That is the only thing on my check list. To do the best I can with what I have. It’s time to learn to love this time of uncertainty. To embrace the fact that you don’t know where you will be living in the next year, month or even week. To make mistakes and love making them. Life is no longer pre-planned. Now, every goal you accomplish, list you check off, and challenge you win will not be because you were following the basic steps, but because you weren’t. You will be you because now you have the chance to create your own steps, with your own rhythm, your own pace, and your own beat. Start creating.
