I remember making a mental checklist about where I was going to be in ten years time when I was 20-years-old; seven years later I've pushed the whole concept out the window and decided to just live in the now rather than having any actual plan. Having done that I have managed to score a diploma in Journalism (Magazine based) and I've travelled to 20-something countries, written many adventures on the way, and met all kinds of characters rather than focus on a career. I know this bothers some people, and puts a few others in awe - wishing they could live that way (which they totally could) - but it doesn't really matter what others think, as long as I'm enjoying the ride.
In reality I don't think you can ever really have a plan for life, how the hell can you know what's going to happen and what your circumstances may be. Maybe I'm so averse to it because I've seen how having a plan can create the wrong kind of pressure on oneself, especially when life doesn't magically fall into place like you had planned. But honestly would you really want it to? Where's the fun in that! All that said though, of course it's acceptable and recommended to set yourself some goals, as it's definitely rewarding to tick things of the old mental checklist. And obviously it's pretty damn great to achieve hopes and dreams you have in place for yourself. So with that said I guess I can write a loose ten year plan of where I would like to be, no pressure of course, but it would be nice to have achieved one, two or all of the following things.
First: Overall it's important for me to remain happy & healthy (as I wish the same for my loved ones), and of course that I'm making the most of my free time by being creative and utilising my imagination as this is what really gets me stoked in life.
Second: I see myself living in a major city, in my first property, which would be a studio apartment the size of a shoebox... I couldn't say where in the world, but I will have a cat, sticky notes and photos covering the walls, and of course stacks upon stacks of literature and vinyl.
Third: I will have written a couple novellas, plenty short stories and actually have them available via eBooks; the big dream and ultimate goal being that one is published as a hard copy and someone out there loves it - and I could say aloud I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!! And yes, I would yell it from mountain tops, tall buildings, and probably just tell strangers as I walk down the street. "Hey did you know I'm a published author? You do now. Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your friends, heck - you should probably tell your cat..." and of course I hope to still be blogging, filling the minds that read this with absolute nonsense.
Fourth: Wherever my career has taken me in ten years time, I want to be enjoying my work. I want to be the best I can be at what I'm doing, and I want to be proud of my achievements and the results I'm producing. Whatever happens I do not want to get comfortable and carry on working in a job that is unfulfilling. I want to be able to learn something new everyday damn it!
Fifth: I'm hoping that I will have taken the leap and enrolled in further education, as it is a personal dream to study abroad - particularly in New York City. The idea of living somewhere like NY just about explodes my mind, it really is the kind of city that is filled with endless possibilities, and it has a taste of many cultures. I love it. LOVE IT.
Sixth: I will be friends with all the same people and more, and I will continue to be the ears for listening, the shoulder for leaning, and the one that makes you a mojito when you're feeling down. I want to be the best friend I can be, because my loved ones deserve the best as they are the best and they give me all the love I could hope for - just not the whoopee kind, that'd be awkward...
Finally, I'm pretty positive I'll continue to work, save and travel, as there is so much world to see and culture to absorb. And I know for sure that I'll continue to listen and learn about every little thing I can. But there is one thing I am yet to experience that I would like to some time within the next ten years, and that is to fall in love and have the feelings reciprocated. It would be such a gift to find myself in a loving relationship that is the perfect balance of adult and childish silliness. Whatever happens though, I know I will continue to grow further into myself. And I won't change who I am, rather just continue to work on the elements of myself that haven't quite developed how I wished.
You just be you, I'll just be me, and that's all we can do.
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| Hey baby, you come here often? Happy & healthy at 27, it could be worse... |
&.the.bohemian.girl.xx.
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