Today I’m linking up with one of my favorite bloggers Amanda from Running With Spoons who hosts an awesome link up every Thursday where she invites bloggers to Think Out Loud.
I’m about to make a hard core Harry Potter reference real quick, so if that’s not your jam you can tap out on this paragraph. You know when Dumbledore first introduces Harry to the pensive? The magical object where you can extract your thoughts and memories and examine them outside your mind? Yeah. I want that. Just for a day to be able to step outside my own head would be glorious. I’ve been having one of those “Can’t-Stop-Pondering-my-Life’s-Purpose” kinda months … but for now I’ll just Think Out Loud.
Monday marked my first full year of post-grad life …WHAT THE WHAT?! The day passed without much hoopla, because I promised I wouldn’t get too nostalgic, but for the past month, questions have been flooding into my head and they won’t stop. Questions I don’t know the answer (yet). And it’s driving me nuts.
I honestly thought that the more experience I got living in “the real world” (whatever that means) the more I would understand what my passions and dreams were. Wrong. I’m more confused than ever…. but not in a bad way. More in a “oh, shit this is just the tip of the iceberg” kind of way.
It feels kind of like being told you have to create a painting using only 3 colors on a square canvas, only to find out you actually get to use 20 different colors to paint with and your canvas is whatever size you want it to be, oh and you don’t even have to paint…. you can fly a spaceship if you want to. Every time I think I find an answer, turns out it’s actually just 30 more questions.
Is questioning everything just a thing that 20-something’s do? I sound ridiculous, but I’m hoping that some of you are out there either nodding your heads in agreement and understanding or at least getting a kick out of my insanity.
Ok, there is this ONE thing I have learned in my year of adulting:
Good things happen when you open yourself up for opportunity.
What do I mean by this? Well, first off luck is real and any successful person who doesn’t attribute some of their success to luck is arrogant or a liar. However, if you prepare yourself for opportunity, when it strikes you’ll have the fuel to make it a fire. When I’ve been successful, it’s almost always a result of both of opportunity and preparation.
So for now, until I get all those answers I’ve been looking for I’ll stay open ready to pounce on opportunity, like this majestic corgi.
Your Turn:
- Have you ever wanted to hit “pause” on your thoughts (just for a day)?
- Do you ever get nostalgic for big anniversaries?
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It’s very rare that a week passes where I don’t say “I don’t want to adult anymore”. I graduated just over a year ago as well and I will always say there is no degree, textbook, or teacher that can prepare you for “real life”. I ask myself all those crazy questions on a daily basis too! Real life is scary, but so exciting at the same time 🙂 Glad to know I’m not the only one!
I guess that’s what makes it so awesome, because you HAVE to learn by experience… but it’s also terrifying
1) please make Harry Potter references in all of your posts 2) that corgi is everything 3) I’ve read many times that your 20s are the years of confusion and that your 30s are your years of confidence. I’d definitely say to take any opportunity that presents itself, because otherwise you’re left wondering “what if?”
So glad you enjoyed shrugging Dumbledore 😀 Exactly! I’d rather fail and learn than feel like I missed out.
That corgi….!!!! Bahahah. I am equally as lost in so many ways, but the things that bring me passion are the ones that I have been pursuing with reckless abandon. Because if not now, when? xo
“If not now, when?” is definitely a question I’ve been asking myself over and over. There are certain things I want to do that I have no real excuse not to and I keep trying to remind myself of that!
Whenever my social media feeds blow up with college graduation photos I’m like whoa I’m old! Haha. I also feel a little nostalgic around work anniversaries and seeing what has changed in X amount of time. And that dog gif kills me. Have a great Thursday!
It’s hard not to feel nostalgic even if you’re happy with your current situation. It can be nice looking back and seeing how much you’ve grown.
Haha corgis are my absolute favorite and I keep a stash of the best corgi gifs when I’m feelin’ down.
I get what you mean. I’m a year out of post-grad this weekend (actually tomorrow) and it’s WEIRD thinking about it. This is the first time we’re not just waiting for the next step. We’re IN the next step. A lot has changed in the past year but they’ve pretty much all been good changes. Our 20s are a year of growth and hopefully by the time we get to our 30s we’ll feel like we have life figured out 🙂
Exactly! We can make whatever step we want. It’s no longer a linear staircase it’s pretty much an MC Escher situation.
Woman I hate to break this to you, but it doesn’t get easier, because I still think these thoughts and I’m 36! I am actually going through my phase of “Where Am I Supposed To Be?” and this pertains to location, life, etc. I try to look at these phases as signs of growth and challenges that allow us to face our fears or take that next crazy step! It can be terrifying, but also exciting…Welcome to the real world of kookie creative adult life!
You’re such a muggle.
At least I’m not a squib?
Love the HP reference. On June 14th it will be a full year for me too and I have definitely had all the same thoughts that you do. I like to think of the first few months of post-grad life as the grieving college period, but theres a point where that starts getting real old and you kind of have to grow up real quick. I feel like my dreams for the future change on the daily and I so wish I could have Dumbledore at my beckon-call to help me figure them out. Lolz.
I’m not sure if we ever feel like we’re where we’re “supposed” to be in life…or maybe I haven’t found it yet! 🙂 The beauty of growing older and …wiser…right? Hehe. Nostalgia is a bitter and sweet little thang…
In order to know where you’re going it’s helpful to remember where you’ve been. As long as you can enjoy what’s in front of you, the universe unfolds in ways you can manage. Yes, I agree w/ the openness preparation for opportunity! Keep thinking out loud, grasshopper love that corgi, that you incl Stacy London
In order to know where you’re going it’s helpful to remember where you’ve been. As long as you can enjoy what’s in front of you, the universe unfolds in ways you can manage. Yes, I agree w/ the openness & preparation for opportunity! Keep thinking out loud, grasshopper I love that corgi, & that you incl Stacy London
I’m not even out of college yet (almost!) but I’ve already had those “adult” feelings and worries. But I’m oddly excited for the next phase of my life, even though I know it won’t be smooth sailing.
I loved college, but by the time I was a senior I was ready to graduate, the next step is scary but scary in a fun roller coaster kind of way!
I’ve been out of school for two years now (crazy!?!). Still have the million questions floating through my head. So much has happened in the last two years: moved to another state, started a job, got married, bought a house, quite said job to start another… So with that being said you might think you know what you want, but it will change. I still have no idea what life will be like 5 years from now, but that’s ok! I know that if I made it through all of the changes, my husband and I can tackle whatever it is. Just remember to enjoy the moments right now (farmer’s markets, rainbows, puppy snuggles, new friends, etc.) and not get to caught up in what you’re “supposed” to be doing.
Such a great reminder. I definitely get caught up in future thinking which inhibits me from enjoying where I am and what I’m doing right now.
Hahaha I love your painting and then plot twist– SPACESHIP! analogy 🙂 And the Corgi gif was so wonderful.
Fortunately, I’ve still got some time to figure out what I want to do and where I want my life to go, but I know time will fly by way faster than I’m expecting, so I’m going to try to soak up my time in college and hopefully not worry too too much about the future…and still get it figured out at the same time. That should be doable, right? 😉
I JUST graduated and I’m crazy about it. After a few months of real stress, I’m getting more relaxed now, accepting that I don’t know what I’ll do, that if I don’t make the best decision now the world will not end and that I have plenty of time, no need to rush things. All those things were SO hard to accept, and stressful thoughts keep coming back, but I’m pushing them away as much as I can. Never thought graduating would be so stressful!
I just finished my undergrad and I have a billion and one questions/thoughts/dreams/fears etc. It’s kind of exhausting lol
Also, about having more answers, I talked to my mother about it and she says you never get answers, just more questions. Since she’s like 55 or something, I’m inclined to believe her. But I’m not sure if I was relieved, or even more worried haha
Ahh kind of suspected that the questions won’t stop but it’s comforting to hear I’m not alone! I guess that’s what makes life fun… and scary… and awesome… and unpredictable