Most people think by the age 16 or 17 we should know what we want to do with the time we spend here on Earth. We should know if we want to go to college and which one it is we hope to attend. We should know what we want to do as far as a career choice. We should know at what age we'd like to settle down, get married, and have children.

The truth of the matter is who really has their life planned out? No one that I know, not at the age of 16 or 60. Life throws us so many curve balls we never know which direction it's going to go or if we'll strike out once we get there.

For instance, my mother gave birth to me at the age of 18. After graduating from high school, her goal was to attend and graduate from College of Cosmetology. She quickly realized after bringing me into this world that she no longer lived life solely for herself. Her wants and needs came second to mine and she wasn't able to follow her dreams. My mother gave birth to me when she was 28 weeks along. Not for one second did she plan this or even envision I'd come three months too early. Her plan took a major detour at this point. Not only did she have an unplanned pregnancy, she now had an unplanned and definitely unannounced delivery. Due to the fact of me being born prematurely, I was hospitalized for nine weeks. She fell behind in obtaining her graduating credits and had to pick up a second job just to be able to provide me with the necessities.

Obviously, my mother planned for absolutely none of these things, but they happened, and she handled each and every one of them as they did. Honestly, what would have been any different if she could have predicted or even planned these events? In my opinion, nothing would have changed because the fact is she was 18 and at 18 we barely know what our favorite meal is.

Things happen way too often that we aren't prepared for and that's okay. It forces us to take the initiative and how to cope with stress. It teaches us who we really are when put under pressure. I believe it builds a special characteristic within us that only makes us strong willed, strong minded and good hearted.

If we planned every detail of our lives out and we knew where we'd be next week, next month or next year, life would be so dull. There would be no excitement, adventure, spontaneity or the thrill of the unknown. I know some of us have to be prepared for what life has in store and that's okay, but don't lose time you have today by stressing about time that hasn't even approached yet.

Take each day you are blessed to have and live in that moment. Live for now and not later. Stressing or worrying about things in our future, things we have no control over is wasting nothing but precious time. I believe in my heart if more of us would take the road less traveled in life we would end up having one hell of a ride.