From the first birthday I remember, I remember just always being excited for the next big thing. When you turn 12, you cannot wait to be 15 and get that permit, but when you turn 15 you cannot wait to be 16 and drive, then you hit 16 and you just cannot wait to hit 18 and be a "legal adult," then you hit 18 and you just want to be 21 and so on.
One moment, you cannot wait for high school, and the next you just want college, and then you just want to graduate and enter the real world in your career and get married and start a family. The milestones turn into checkpoints, rather than celebrations.
Stop putting a timeline on life. You do not need to be married by 24 to be happy, or maybe you get married at 22 and find pure joy. You do not need to have a kid by 28 to be accomplished, or maybe you have a kid at 21 and it becomes your pride and joy. You do not need to have your perfect career by 25, or maybe you are lucky and find it. Life is not based on ages, life is based on moments. So, let's enjoy them.
I found out about a month ago, I was not graduating on time. I could if I wanted to probably, but this would require a course load that would sacrifice my mental stability. It has been hard, all of my friends are having those "lasts," and I know that I will still be here, surrounded by less love and support from before, and that is OKAY.
But, newsflash, life isn't meant to be this big, planned out journey. It is meant to be spontaneous and celebrated. My friends have worked their butts off, and now is my time to celebrate them, and my time will come. For now, I need to enjoy my journey, though different than others, it is MY journey.
I will still graduate, I will still enter the real world, just not on this four-year timeline that we are pressured to accomplish from the start.
Life is full of surprises, good and bad, and this was one of my not so great surprises. But, I will not let it alter me, I will not let it define me, I will only let this push me; push me out of my comfort zone to meet new people in this last victory lap, push me to join new organizations and broaden my horizon, and push me to feel comfortable in not having a timeline on life. Every story is different, and I am proud of mine, and I want you proud of yours.
Let's relieve this pressure from society on how and when things should happen, and begin to just let things happen, because that's the key to enjoying this life we are given.
"We don't really have a place in the universe, as far as on a timeline. But nothing else does, either. Therefore, every moment really is the most important moment that's ever happened, including this moment right now." Kaki King.
