This weekend I saw one of my fave high school teachers while out and about. We had a quick conversation about how school was going, what his family has been up to, and just what's going on in my life. He mentioned how he was spending time with his children and we talked for a few minutes before saying goodbye and Merry Christmas. After talking about how school was, dating, and talking about the usual things relating to college, he unknowingly offered some words of wisdom to me. Reay said, "we are all on different paths in life." It was so good to see him and catch up for a few minutes, but I will never forget that line.
The topic of different paths has been on my mind for a couple months. College is such a fun, exciting, scary, (awkward at times), and difficult part of life. I've met some pretty amazing people in college. I think it's fascinating that of those people I've met, there's such a wide range of ages, relationship status, and progress in school. Everyone is on a different path than the next person.
When I look around at the people I'm surrounded by and especially my friends, I notice numerous differences in the paths of our lives. Many of my friends are married, engaged, or dating someone. One of my best friends just had her first baby. Some are doing really well in school, a few are even in grad school. And nearly all my friends have jobs and are working. We are all around the same age, in our twenties, yet we are so different. It can be so easy to look around and compare my life, and the path that I'm on. At times it seems that my path is going nowhere and that I will never get on the other paths that my friends are on of dating and working.
As I compare differences, it leaves me frustrated and sometimes annoyed. The way I think about it needs to change though. As my old teacher said, "we are all on different paths in life." We all started on the same path, but went different ways and ended up on different paths. Right now I'm on the path where I'm just focusing on school, and that's okay. One day I'll be on the path of dating someone, then eventually getting engaged and married. After I get married I'll have kids and start on a new path. I'll start on the path of being in the workforce full-time after completing my degree next December. I'll be young when I graduate, but that makes it all the more exciting because I have more freedom because I'm younger and will only be 21 when I graduate from college.
For now I'm going to focus on the path I am on right this minute and not compare it to the paths of others. I may be on the seemingly boring and difficult path of being in school and focusing on my classes, but it is where I need to be right now and the particular path I need to be on. My time will come when it's right for me to be on a different path. There is no need to rush anything. The time will pass anyway, so might as well enjoy the path I am on.
Whichever path of life you may be on right now, I encourage you to enjoy it and not spend your time wishing you were on a different path. Because we are all on different paths, you can't compare your path to anyone else's because it is so different. It would be like comparing a rollercoaster to a merry-go-round. It just is so different and unique that you would end up frustrated every time you compare. We are all on different paths of life. Your time will come when it is right for you to be on other paths. You are where you are right now for a reason. Stay on the path of life you are on for right now until a different path intersects and directs you onto a new path. The new path will come only when you are ready and when you are supposed to be on a different path.
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