I am not of old age. I have not experienced everything there is to experience, and I certainly have not lived a life full of struggle. However, there have been multiple occurrences throughout my life that have moved me to a different location on the “path of life.” The path of life is strange when you come into terms with it. You are originally set at the end of this long, seemingly endless, empty road. Along the way, what you go through adds the scenery on the sides of the road, the pit stops you take, and everything in between and all around. Everyone starts with an empty road, but somewhere along the way, things happen. And with each new happening, our path starts to turn and change as we go.
Somewhere along the way, I… have been told I can’t. Whether this was in elementary school when I couldn’t go get a drink from the drinking fountain, at home when I couldn’t sleep over at a friend’s house, or later in high school/college when someone simply didn’t believe in me enough to think I could accomplish something. Many people, especially those of different races and gender orientations, get told frequently that they can’t.
Somewhere along the way, I… have experienced bullying. This doesn’t mean a large scary kid with spiky hair stole my lunch money on the way to school (referencing almost every cartoon), but that someone has gone out of their way to cause me pain. Whether it was on social media, over text message or in person, this is hurtful, demeaning and cruel. When this happens, it causes you to reconsider your worth and think less of yourself. It can bring you to tears and to a bad place, and has a stronger effect on the person than you may think.
Somewhere along the way, I… have had my heart broken. I am not talking about elementary school relationships where you dumped your “boyfriend/girlfriend” 20 minutes after you circled yes on the note. I’m talking about the pain that truly feels heavy on your heart, the times where you have lost a loved one, pet or a friend. The disappointment that can come with trying to succeed, and falling further down the ladder rather than moving up, or the moment you realize your old friends have become strangers. No matter how big or small the situation is, anything has potential to break a heart.
But…
Somewhere along the way, I… have laughed. I have laughed a true and hearty laugh. This kind of laughing is the kind that pushes out the anxious and upset feelings within you to make room for the bubbles of joy and the good kind of pain that laughter brings. Sometimes all you need to brighten your outlook on life is a great laugh with someone near and dear. Those moments are completely free and available anywhere and at any time. Find your laugh in life.
Somewhere along the way, I… have learned to love myself. This is a tough task, and takes time, so be patient. Many people try to rush this process, and it ends up making it harder. Take the time to find things you truly love, and keep them around. It sounds cliché, and I suppose it kind of is. But if you don’t allow yourself the time to find your inner values and inspirations, you will never understand how much worth you hold. As Zoë Kravitz once said, “Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself. When you love yourself, that’s when you’re the most beautiful.”
Somewhere along the way, I… have accepted imperfection. I live a life of busy schedules and piling everything I can (and more) on my plate. That is how it always has been. I always have to have things laid out in front of me and organized to a T… except my room. (Sorry, mom and dad.) I always need to be at least 15 minutes early to everything or else I feel like I am late. With this, I have learned that you can’t always have everything together, and as hard as it is to accept, your life will be filled with imperfections. However, an imperfection can be a good thing. Your alarm didn’t go off and you missed your morning class? Don’t fret about it. Take that time to take a breath and drink a cup of coffee—you will have plenty of classes to come.
Regardless of the life you live, we have all experienced highs and lows. We so often forget that with every low, you can find a high to balance it out, no matter the size of the previous. With that, remember that you only get one life to live. It will be filled with twists and turns and ups and downs, but there is beauty in unpredictability.
