My friend called me last night to start coordinating Cinco de Mayo festivities. Score! As I was thinking about how awesome this weekend is going to be, it hit me, out of nowhere…we’re already in MAY.
Really?!? A whole freaking year passed by already? I’m just baffled.
You see, May of last year marked the beginning of the weirdest year of my life.
But you know what?
The weirdest year of my life has also been the one I’m most thankful for.
To begin with, this time last year I thought I had everything figured out. Then I realized that I knew nothing. And so I began my quest to figure things out on my own terms. This is what’s happened since…
I’ve learned that first impressions aren’t always accurate. I’ve learned that while I’m good at some things, I suck at others. I’ve discovered some of my truest passions. I’ve done things for myself and not for the approval of others. I’ve learned that without faith, things are f*cking hard. I’ve learned that life should be about living, yet we waste so much time complaining about things that don’t really matter. Not even a little bit. I’ve lost some friends. I’ve gained others. And most importantly, I’ve met people that have unexpectedly and quite suddenly changed my life forever.
I’ve hurt people I’ve loved and I’ve been hurt by people I’ve loved.
I’ve been confused and unsettled and yet every second has been exhilarating.
I’ve learned to let go of expectations. I’ve learned to embrace being lost. I’ve learned the value in different perspectives. I’ve watched as all my future plans got thrown out the window. At some point along the way, I forgot who I was, who I wanted to be. Then luckily, I found myself again. I’ve learned to say yes to some things and no to others. I’ve learned to move forward despite every effort to hold onto the past for dear life…Because it’s all I ever knew, and because it felt safe. I’ve learned, as a result, that I don’t want safe. Instead, I want adventure.
I’ve learned to fully embrace this complete wanderlust, this zest for experiencing life and all it has to offer because the world is a beautiful place that we far too often take for granted.
I’ve learned that…
But more than anything, I’ve learned that I’m much more resilient than I ever imagined.
And so, for this year, I’m forever grateful.
You know, being young can suck sometimes. It’s confusing and people expect you to have everything figured out. But life doesn’t really work that way. You don’t have to have all the answers. So experience everything that’s thrown your way- both the good and the bad- then learn from it, from all of it. And I promise, if you do that, you’ll be just fine.
Niceeeeee. Loved this! Embracing and staying thankful all the way!
I figure it’s a far less stressful way of living
I am passionate about writing and have learned that it brings happiness and sadness equally to my days…. Good post… Have a safe and fun cinco de mayo… Don’t forget you finger mustache!
Maybe a little sadness but much more happiness…haha thank you! finger mustaches are awesome
First thing I remember learning about life was that “Brace Yourself”. It’s taken many faceplants to get this many years lived and they just keep coming. Maybe I should try using someone else’s feet for a while.
Brace yourself…yupp…definitely relevant lol but hey, that’s the only way to experience anything. if you’ve taken lots of face plants, I guess you’ve been living a pretty awesome life
I follow the George Foreman philosophy of life: “Get up one more time than you get knocked down.”
So far……life’s been quite a ride. But the scars prove that I’m still alive! And breathing.
That’s bang on Kayla. Learn from it all. I am 47 and it took me until a few years ago to realize it. You, my young friend, are way ahead of the curve with that attitude of yours. Cheers! Enjoy Cinqo. The older you get the faster it goes. Relish those moments.
I follow your blogs and find them to be a breath of fresh air. If there are more out there like you, there is real hope for the rest of us. Keep up the good work!
Very good post and spot on. You’re wise beyond your years fellow GenYus
Let me know how I can help in anyway.
A was excited to turn 30. I figured that, by 30, I’d have all my sh– figured out. No luck.
I had the same hopes for 40. Sigh.
You’re already wise by saying you embrace being lost. When you embrace the state of lost-ness, you can buy a ticket to a foreign country (by yourself) and have fun wandering. You can ask for help without feeling weak.
The great news about getting older is that each setback requires less resiliency to work through. I’ve begun looking at mean people and simply said, “Been there. Seen that.”
I can’t wait to see what you keep writing about through the years
Great post! Just when you think you have it all figured out or are exactly where you want to be, something changes all that. You may meet someone, you get thrown a curve ball, a boulder blocks your path or your own goals take a u-turn. I guess all we can do is have faith and make each moment count! Thanks for sharing!
You essentially captured the point so well coz we often think we need to have everything figured out by a certain age, by a certain phase to have other, ‘better’ things to come our way. but it’s not true. growing only comes living and learning
Great post, I want to let you know that being young is fantastic! You will realize it more as you are my age. I enjoy what you have to share and I learn a lot from you, keep it up.
Kayla, you have great self-awareness. Wish I’d had half of what you have when I was your age. Stay open. Learn all you can.
Hey!! I really like your stuff and would like to highlight it, but I need some assistance. How do I do it? I really love this post.
I love your post! I’m actually going through what you had gone through a year ago, and I could use an advice like this. I hope you stay happy as your cute blog theme hihi!
that was pretty inspiring.. from now on i will let go of expectations and just embrace being lost just as what you did.. because i think that feels good.
)
This is amazing! Extremely relatable. It’s like you were in my brain and put into words what I’ve been trying to figure out. Everything that you said is extremely true for our generation at this stage of life. I am sure we can all find ourselves in at least a part of your story. Wonderful
Have you ever thought of writing a book?
My past year in a nutshell. Seriously! Such a positive outlook. It feels good to find yourself over and over again.
Amazing post. Amen to everything you said
Anyone who says they have it all “figured out” is not being truthful. I beleive that no one is perfect and no one has all of the answers….If they did they would have written a book on it, we would have all read it and life would be sorted for one and for all. The joy of living is exploring our own path, being true to ourselves, learning, growing and trying to have as much happiness as we can along the way.You sound like you are doing just that! Great post!
Reblogged this on strategicjourney and commented:
I really like this post. I wanted to share.
Honestly, I feel like I can really relate to this specific post. Just three months ago I was having the time of my life at college in Philadelphia, but then suddenly that all changed when I had a near death experience that ended up being serious and bringing me back home to Iowa.
I had it all figured out! I knew exactly how I was going to afford my schooling, where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be, and how I’d get there. Then this one thing made me re-think it all. The beginning of March, a month after this experience, I found myself at home and more lost than ever. Things I thought meant the world to me didn’t seem so important anymore, and things I thought I could brush aside presented themselves with new vigor.
I feel like there’s entirely too much pressure on us at a young age to know who we are and where we’re going to be that we over look the things that really make us enjoy life.