Anna's independence makes her a believable 20-something, but her level-headed quippiness makes her an admirable one. So I'd like to dedicate this post to reiterating her message: Confidence.
I found this gem on Pinterest:
You Don't Have to Have it All Figured Out to Move Forward
This was the most life affirming piece of advice I have encountered in a long time. But I would like to amend this sage wisdom with the fact that you should keep moving forward, regardless of your knowledge (or lack thereof) of where you'll end up. As it is with a bicycle, moving forward is the only way to keep your balance.
Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Roadblocks on roadblocks on roadblocks exist between you and the huge blank canvas that is your next step. The first and most obvious would be that the canvas is blank. Not a whole lot of motivation...or so you thought! The fact that the canvas is blank should be ALL of your motivation! These are the most exciting years of your life. You have the most resources (that money in the bank, that hot bod, a biological ability to resist hangovers, those parents...) with the fewest things tying you down (I don't see no ring on that finger.) So go on an adventure!
Until you hit road block number 2. Your Parents. Now here your pesky parents can represent friends, siblings, extended family, your parents' friends, or they can just represent your parents. But this is the roadblock that I'm really committed to committing arson on.
They will tell you that your ideas are dumb. That the printed book industry is going the way of grammar or that mermaids do not merit a field within marine biology.
They'll tell you that you need a plan. Moving back home isn't an option, pops? You're withdrawing money from my bank account to repay you for my graduation trip? You want me to find a paid internship in nonprofits? Y'know, that's so funny, I actually always suspected that you were INSANE.
They'll tell you that you haven't thought things through. They'll enumerate the dangers of urban city scapes and international backpacking and offer fraudulent wisdom on everything from tap water to the mating habits of hostel dwelling New Zealanders in Germany. And they'll pretend that they're somehow helping you with their friendly advice (excuse me a moment, I just have to go grab a towel, the sarcasm was dripping SO heavily that it started puddling under my computer, and since the next upgrade is on me...). And maybe in some sort of latent rebellion way they actually are helping, but if so its quite indirect.
For the time being all the inquisition is doing is instilling in you a fearful and paralyzing sense of self doubt. The most vital reaction for you to have is to ignore them. Because despite that terrifyingly high horse from which they condescend to you, they were no better off when they graduated from CMU (Cave Man U) in 1400 BCE with a degree in heavy lifting just as that new fangled wheel was flooding the cart market. Seriously. It's going to be OK.
But here's the twist. It's not enough to just know that they're wrong. You have to say it. Like out loud. And while I'll give you a free pass on confronting the doubtful d-bags of the world face-to-face, you have to at least say it to your friends. Write it. Text it. Tattoo it. Owl it. But most importantly, BELIEVE that it's ok that you don't know where you're going, and have faith that the decisions that you're making in the name of your happiness are leading you closer to doors that you can unlock, and enter, and thrive behind.
Basically, to all the people who want to ask what my plan is, here's a preview:
Argo fuck yourself. Now excuse me, I'm going to drink lots of wine.
Until you hit road block number 2. Your Parents. Now here your pesky parents can represent friends, siblings, extended family, your parents' friends, or they can just represent your parents. But this is the roadblock that I'm really committed to committing arson on.
They will tell you that your ideas are dumb. That the printed book industry is going the way of grammar or that mermaids do not merit a field within marine biology.
They'll tell you that you need a plan. Moving back home isn't an option, pops? You're withdrawing money from my bank account to repay you for my graduation trip? You want me to find a paid internship in nonprofits? Y'know, that's so funny, I actually always suspected that you were INSANE.
They'll tell you that you haven't thought things through. They'll enumerate the dangers of urban city scapes and international backpacking and offer fraudulent wisdom on everything from tap water to the mating habits of hostel dwelling New Zealanders in Germany. And they'll pretend that they're somehow helping you with their friendly advice (excuse me a moment, I just have to go grab a towel, the sarcasm was dripping SO heavily that it started puddling under my computer, and since the next upgrade is on me...). And maybe in some sort of latent rebellion way they actually are helping, but if so its quite indirect.
For the time being all the inquisition is doing is instilling in you a fearful and paralyzing sense of self doubt. The most vital reaction for you to have is to ignore them. Because despite that terrifyingly high horse from which they condescend to you, they were no better off when they graduated from CMU (Cave Man U) in 1400 BCE with a degree in heavy lifting just as that new fangled wheel was flooding the cart market. Seriously. It's going to be OK.
But here's the twist. It's not enough to just know that they're wrong. You have to say it. Like out loud. And while I'll give you a free pass on confronting the doubtful d-bags of the world face-to-face, you have to at least say it to your friends. Write it. Text it. Tattoo it. Owl it. But most importantly, BELIEVE that it's ok that you don't know where you're going, and have faith that the decisions that you're making in the name of your happiness are leading you closer to doors that you can unlock, and enter, and thrive behind.
Basically, to all the people who want to ask what my plan is, here's a preview:
Argo fuck yourself. Now excuse me, I'm going to drink lots of wine.
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