The older I get, the more I realize that life isn’t as easy as your parents make it seem…or as easy as you thought it would be. Adulting is hard, and there isn’t any kind of textbook or class that’ll ever prepare you for life’s real curveballs. With the overload of the toxic political news on your timelines that almost made you delete your Facebook, I decided to write about a few things that we’ve all experienced (or will at some point in our lives) that might’ve sucked in the time being, but have made us the people we are today.
1.You’ll lose some friends
If you think about it, most people aren’t friends with their friends from Kindergarten. (If you are, then major props to you.) Point being, you’ve grown since then and so did your friendships. I’m not friends with some people I used to be good friends with and there are a few reasons why things like this happen:
1. People change, including you. As we grow, we start to realize what we like and don’t like in people, and pick and choose who we are friends with carefully as we often shape ourselves around them.
2. Misunderstandings. Plain and simple. If the two of you aren’t on the same page and don’t have a strong enough foundation to be honest with each other, then that friendship can never withstand any kind of humanly mistake.
3. Time, distance, and circumstances. Whether it has been years since you’ve seen that person or they are no longer in proximity, it’s tough to keep in touch with people who never had that much of an impact on you. People are meant to come into your life for a reason, whether that be temporarily or permanently. Through each relationship we have, we cherish moments and create memories. It just plain sucks when that person no longer holds the same place in your life; however, through the hurt, we learn and grow from those situations.
2. You may contemplate your career choices- several times.
Today you’re a math major, tomorrow you’re a communication major. You were in sales your whole life, now you’re 40 and just took the LSAT to go to law school. It happens. A lot of people measure uncertainty with failure which really shouldn’t be the case. We are always growing and changing, so changes in life are healthy and okay.
3. You’ll embarrass yourself numerous times
I could basically be majoring in embarrassing myself. I’ve sprained both my feet from just walking. I’ve definitely called people by the wrong name, said something really ignorant in class, made really bad wardrobe choices (bright pink underwear under white shorts in a golf match), and so much more that I’m too embarrassed to put on the internet. But, it’s okay! The more you accept that you make mistakes and that you’re only human, the more you focus on learning from those mistakes versus beating yourself up over it. Don’t afraid to be wrong or fall and be on crutches for three months. It’s okay!
4. Donald Trump could become President.
OK- yes, I know he is the President. I don’t like writing about political things or being political on social platforms but as this world is having a tough time adjusting to the new American President, it is important to remember that it’s going to be okay. This country and its people have withstood a LOT throughout it’s history and I think we can take this one too. Stand up for what you believe in, regardless of what that maybe… or else you will fall for anything.
5. At some point you'll think your world has ended.
On a final note, at some point in your life, something so monumental happens that you feel like you can’t get up in the morning or can’t find a way to move on from what happened. This moment comes in different ways, shapes and forms for everyone, but there is one thing true for everyone that encounters this: it will be okay. As humans, we learn to cope with the situations that are thrown at us as we try to come back to an equilibrium. It may take days, weeks, months and even years, but everything, good and bad, is an experience that is meant to happen for a reason.