Dear kindred spirit,
You have a planner, I’m sure. It’s your Bible isn’t it? I bet it’s color coded, too, huh? Chances are you have a goal sheet (that is also very likely color coded) and you’ve had dates planned out for months now. I’d be willing to bet that you’re ahead in school—and life; you’re living your life in the fast lane and probably using the right lane to pass those who aren’t going quite fast enough for you.
Humor me for a minute. Put down your multi-colored pens and notecards, close your planner, and stop thinking five years into the future. Are you happy with this? Is your success worth it? Can you handle things being unorganized for just awhile? I’m a lot like you, you know. I color-code my entire life, I’m at least a year ahead in school — I’m practically flying in the fast lane.
But do you know what you and I both need? A break. A mess. The realization that it’s OK not to have our entire lives planned down to the minute. I know, I know, it sounds crazy. But seriously, life will go on if things don’t go exactly how you imagined and reimagined them going. The world won’t end if you don’t get the internship, or job, or acceptance letter from your #1 grad school pick.
Are you happy with how things are going? I don’t doubt that you’re successful, but at what cost? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is unpredictable and you can’t plan for everything (although I know you try). Stop forcing yourself to make a hundred flashcards in one night or create five versions of the same schedule “just in case plan A goes wrong.” For once in your life, don’t go three extra miles for every little thing. Allow yourself to breathe every once in a while.
Don’t get me wrong, being a chronic organizational freak is a good trait to have… most of the time. Every once in a while, though, you should leave some things up to chance—you should let life take it’s course and go with the flow. I’m not saying it will be easy at first, but in the long run you’ll be thankful that you let the little things go.
Sincerely,
An over-organzied overachiever
