I am eighteen years old, fresh out of high school, and ready to take on the world. Well, honestly at eighteen, I don't know how ready you can be for what life throws at you. I promise you, you will surely crumble at one time or another. It is after you crumble that you really learn what you are made of. Believe me, I've crumbled. I don't know if it was the worst I will crumble in my life, but I know now that when something comes my way, I will be able to put the pieces together easier. I crumbled because I had to watch someone who I thought would be a part of my life until the day I died walk away by his choice, and it broke my heart. I don't regret a single part of that chapter of my life though, it made me who I am now. The biggest truth is, this is my life. This is my adventure.
Tonight after dinner, my Dad and I went over to his friend's house. It was the first time I had met his friend and his wife. I did not expect to be there for nearly two and half hours talking and playing with their adorable dog. They both are very kind people who you can talk to very easily. My Dad started talking to his friend about fishing, and I started talking to his friend's wife about all kinds of things. Not going to lie, this conversation got me excited. At first it was just about how my summer has been, my travels, participating in 4-H and the state fair that takes place in our city, we talked about where she worked, and then we talked about my plans for the future.
My goal is to finish my Associates of the Arts this year, and then transfer to a four year university. I want to go to St. Martin's University in Lacey, Washington. I plan to study Elementary Education and become endorsed in biology and English. I also want to minor in creative writing. That's a lot, huh? Well, there's more.
It turned out the woman I had been talking to had traveled a lot when she was younger. She told me she had been to Holland, Kenya, Peru, and London. She also had been all over the country. Pretty fantastic, right? Well I then shared with her that I want to spend a semester in London, and another semester in Dublin. I also would enjoy being in a program like Teachers for America or Teachers Without Borders. I think it would very fulfilling to spread your talent and knowledge in a way that those programs offer. Well, throughout this conversation, the greatest advice I got was to go adventuring. She said to me "girls need to adventure, they need to have fun and see places. Don't be tied down."
Suddenly, something that I had been pondering for a whiled dawned on me...
I do not want to be tied down. This is something I have been dealing with figuring out for quite a few weeks now. A part of me is so comfortable where I am at. I love the idea of staying where I am. I love my home. I love how I know so many people here. It is so comforting. Also, I love the scenery here. Believe you me, I could go on for days about the way the mountains jet up into the air, and the tall green trees contrast perfectly against the blue sky, and the rivers that pool into lakes but all the water finds its way back to the ocean. It's magical to me. Plus, I live in the only state in the continental US that has a rainforest. Bragging rights! But, another part of me is so ready to spread my wings and fly. Maybe I wouldn't leave Washington, but maybe a new city. Lacey seems perfect. But I don't want to be tied down. I believe that if I was tied down, I would get restless. I would start wondering what I could have if I was not tied down. I have been the girl that would run to commitment. Less than three months ago, I thought that I had met the person I would spend my life with, and all seemed perfect. I know how exciting that feeling truly is. But I think I want to see more of life before I know for sure if I really am ready to settle down.
My big point is, this is my adventure. No one else can have this adventure. And I think that is pretty fricken awesome if you ask me. I don't want anything or anybody in life to make me feel small. You only get one life. Life is for living, so live it up, or else you might as well be dead, right? I feel really inspired to just go out and live this life. Nothing can bring me down. I've crumbled to pieces, life does that to you. I don't want to spend my nights crying myself to sleep again because I was scared that I had lost the one person who made me never feel alone. Yes, I did lose him. But maybe it's just for now. I don't know. And as scary as the unknown is, it is also crazy exciting. My biggest advice, is to go adventuring while you can. Before your time runs out and you are tied down and have to worry about bills, or the kids, or work, or making sure dinner is on the table before your husband gets home, go adventuring. You have plenty of time to be settled down and have other things to get stressed over. Now is your time to adventure. I know I use the word adventure a lot. I probably wear it out, but I cannot emphasis it enough. Turn your face to the unknown, take a risk, and just have fun. Besides, who wants to tell your kids boring stories that when you were eighteen, all you did was wait tables at the local diner, or that you were settled down before you even knew what it meant to be a little crazy? I want to be able to tell my kids about the glory days when I was eighteen running around the country, hiking in the Cascade Mountains, walking the streets of Seattle, and meeting new people. This is your life. This is YOUR adventure. Make something of it.
~Always,
Just a girl, trying to take on the world.
P.S. I will share about my day trip adventure to Seattle tomorrow! I am so excited!
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