Embrace the Adventure

As we all look back on our lives, we see snapshots of moments that were turning points or major milestones leading us to who we are now. That is one of the blessings of age, you have the ability to gain wisdom. Hind sight is 20/20, so the saying goes. Looking back we can see where we were blessed, where we screwed up, where we missed an opportunity, or when we had the courage to throw caution to the wind and jump. Age also provides the benefit of not having to make certain decisions anymore. With years come the gift of knowing who we are, what we like, what we don’t and what we are good at. We have peace in being ourselves because time has allowed us to experience good and bad enough to understand ourselves. 

What about those who don’t have much time under their belt? I was with a group of young women recently and most were struggling with who they wanted to be when they grow up. They only had a few snapshots of their childhood and very few of themselves as successful adults. They were still figuring out who they are, what they like, what is important to them, and what value they bring to the world. They were struggling with the many life changing choices they face, and which way to go? Do they move for a new job? Do they go back to school? Do they stay and work through the horrible boss or failing love life? Do they buy a house, buy a car, fall in love, or learn something completely different and change everything? So many choices and not much bandwidth or experience in making these life altering choices. The weight of the world seemed to hang on their every thought and ponderance. 

If you had told me when I was their age that I would end up where I am now, I would not have believed you. I would not have been able to imagine the path that would have gotten me from there to here.  It is not about making the perfect choices; it is about living with the choices you have made once you have made them. Once you give yourself the freedom to make a choice with the full confidence that you can live with what’s on the other side of that decision, then life doesn’t seem so frightening. None of us knows exactly what is going to happen after we choose; we can move forward knowing that our choices make us who we are, and no matter what age you wake up with today you are still learning and making decisions. 

Don’t let the unknown prevent you from making a decision. No one ever knows it all in order to make a decision. There will always be elements of the unknown. Have enough confidence in yourself to live with the other side of your decisions, and embrace the adventure.