This article is a bit of a stretch. Sure, it will make sense... eventually... so bear with me. If you are unaware of the existence of a little game called Fortnite, I'll do my best to explain the gist of it.
In "Battle Royale," you are pitted against 99 other players against whom you must outsurvive... aka kill everyone or die and observe someone else kill everyone. Basically, you skydive onto a giant map from a flying schoolbus and scavenge for weapons and supplies, which you can use to harm others and construct various structures, respectively. Additionally, a storm forces players closer to reducing the area every so often.
Tactics are inevitably key here, but these tactics vary greatly from player to player. Some prefer a quick-into-action method, diving into an urban area and shooting others right off the bat. Others choose to land elsewhere, waiting out the majority of the game until numbers go down, saving up to build and wreak havoc.
Me? I typically follow a model based on my real life strategies: floundering around in hopes I come across something powerful enough to give me a decent upper hand. Realistically, I get shot in the face while chopping down a tree with a pickax. Because that's logical.
By now you've either lost interest or faith in my abilities as a gamer--which is fine because I suck and I'm cool with it. There is a point to my nerdy babbling. Promise.
This article relates mostly to the latter game technique--taking the time to prepare, not coming in 97th like me. See, I have this weird habit of placing thoughts into other contexts. In this instance, it was life as it could relate to a game.
At my age(halfway to 50), it seems like most people are getting married, having babies, or both. There are days when this admittedly gets to me. On those days, I feel like my successes do not account for much, that my progress in life is inadequate in comparison to those around me.
Realistically, we're all at different stages in our lives. Some got to quicker starts than others, and that's okay. It's okay to land in the woods and chop down trees--hypothetically, I mean... don't actually do that. Chances are it's not legal. But, my point is I'm realizing that taking a little longer than others is not the end of the world.
Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do or finds their soul mate before age 25. Some of us need to step out of the action for a bit to truly develop ourselves and "stock up" on any number of resources, be it money, connections, confidence, etc. And. That. Is. Okay.
Taking things slow isn't horrible. I prefer it a good portion of the time if we're being honest. Why meddle with competitive peers and high risks when you can measure out your path at your own pace?
Whichever tactic you take in life, commit fully to it, but be aware that you may change your mind. And unlike the game, not everyone is out to get you. There's actually a lot of differences compared to reality when you stop and think about it. Okay, realistically, you shouldn't need to stop and think about it. You hang-glide onto an area to kill people. I for one am glad real life does not replicate this.
All I'm saying is don't let others' ways of life dictate how you proceed with yours or how you feel about the life you currently lead. Everyone is different. Every life is different. No two paths are the same. So go out there and show those noobs who the boss is.