01 January 2012

You Say Goodbye, I say Hello










This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find … themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. … they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.



Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.



Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”
Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.




Happy 2012 Friends! 









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22 comments:

  1. Well said, my friend... well said! It's like you're in my brain, typing out my EXACT thoughts. I couldn't agree with you more!

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  2. You know... I'm only 24 but I've already seen this. I'm married. Have been striving for my dream job, husband & I make plans and actually follow through and dream big for our future, but I have some friends who didn't go to college, stayed in town and live with their parents, work the same job they had in high school and have no ambition to do anything better.

    I absolutely love the honesty of your post and I think it's something everyone should think about.

    Hope your 2012 brings many new adventures and memories!

    Fairdale Diaries

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  3. Great post! I feel the exact same way about the "two types" of people. It's hard to wait for those people to realize the different "types" and figure out that they can cross the bridge to adulthood :) Thanks for sharing this post! I'm going to definitely try and travel more, and gripe about the cost later ;) Happy New Year!

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  4. Excellent post today! I totally agree & this is something I've struggled with so this post really hit home.

    I love your name, btw ;-)

    Cassandra.

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  5. I agree! Happy New Year :)

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  6. I am your newest follower! I'm so glad I found your blog, I love it!

    Congrats on your engagement and Happy New Year!

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  7. I love this post so much :) it's so true! I am so glad I took the risk of moving to another country for love. I can't imagine my life any other way!

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  8. I could not agree with you more about the two kinds of people, as I am getting older I am seeing that more. Definitely a great post! Happy New Year!

    xoxo
    Petchie
    http://itsallofthelittlethings.blogspot.com/

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  9. I want to say congratulations on your engagement. That is wonderful.

    Not sure exactly how I found your blog, I think originally through Flip Flop and Pearls, and some links after that, but I loved your engagement story.

    Best wishes.

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  10. I just found your blog today and wanted to say congrats on your engagement! Very cute story! I look forward to reading more of your blog. Jodi

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  11. very well said! congrats on the engagement! i got engaged last night too :)

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  12. Such an amazing, inspiring post. Those are questions I've been consistently asking myself lately, and some of the answers I've come to were hard to accept but completely necessary!

    I know what side of the divide I want to be on when I near my 30s, so I'm working on that right now while I have plenty of time. :)

    Happy New Year!!! <3

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  13. Very well said. This is so true! Happy New Year!

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  14. This is a very well-written post and I love it!! Very encouraging words for anyone to hear :)!

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  15. Well said. Even at 24, I am beginning to see that divide. Have a great 2012!

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  16. This is an awesome post.
    I wish I could send this to some friends of mine without offending! Haha
    Really tho, awesome advice that everyone should take into consideration.
    I cannot STAND it when I see a friend not living to their full potential because of a relationship that obviously isn't going somewhere!
    PREACH!

    lovelovelove,
    Moo.

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  17. This is such a great post!! Thank you for the reminders. :)

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  18. Amen to that! It's hard when you get married young, and all of the people your age want to go to the bars, get drunk, and party. That is NOT life, people! That's what college was for! I can think of a few select people that need to read this :)

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