Youthful Life: X

The 20s are all about welcoming your future. This decade of your life is supposed to be where you come into your own and make the transition from young adult to fully established professional. The transformation and the steps along the way leave much to be desired. It seems like it's just supposed to happen overnight. You wake up and suddenly know what you want for your life. I don't know about you but the epiphany moments I have are way more subtle than that. It's only in taking the time to notice how I am reacting in certain situations that I realize how I have grown up. Let's take a glimpse into the future - this is flash forward. It's the question that every senior ever has dreaded, "what are you doing after graduation?" I have some general ideas about what I would like to do but as of now not really in specifics. In actuality I cannot even decide what I want to watch next on Netflix left alone choose the next step into adulthood. It seems like ever...

The 20s are all about being okay with not knowing. For some people, not having their future planned out down to the minute can be gravely terrifying while others relish in the spontaneity of their lives. Often the world of young people is split in two seemingly diverging paths - one that leads to jobs and family, and another that entails traveling on a whims' notice. The reality is you can have both, and most have a little bit of each. No matter what your happiness in life though comes from your inner satisfaction. Do you believe that you deserve to be happy? Some things are just beyond belief. When I was a little kid there was no problem that was beyond fixing when my dad said everything was going to be okay. I remember this one time I had been riding my bike around the cul-de-sac. I was recently training wheel free and zoomed around the curves of the asphalt like a speed demon on a mission. My helmet was fastened tight but I had neglected to put on my knee pads. One ino...

Being a teenager is all about doing something meaningful. I've come to realize that my biggest problem with college is the fact that so much of the lifestyle on my campus centers around pointlessness. I'm like, why are we doing this? Why are things this way? Why do I even go here? I want my life to mean something, to be a small part of something larger than myself, and do make a splash. I want to be the crater that changes everything, the force to be reckoned with, and the light that shines in the darkness. I want to make an impact. You never really know the impact you have on a person or a situation. You can get little hints from facial expressions, body language, and just trying to read what's going on, but you never know the full story. Everything you say, everything you do, and all the actions in between not only have an impact on yourself but everyone else around you. You have the power to seriously brighten someone's day, or put a major damper on it. You'v...

Being a teenager is all about being the best you possible. It's about being aware of your environment, and what you need to do to get things done. Sometimes you've got to turn it on, whether that be the most outgoing part of your personality or that smile that makes everyone else feel good. At other times, you can turn it off, and just be mellow you. When it all happens at once and you've to pause, take a breather and turn it off. When you've got to be on you're A-game, you'd best bring it. When all eyes are you on you, it's only you can surpass expectations and do your thing. Sunday was a huge test of that for me. I woke up nervous and a little excited. I get dressed, and Sam and I retriever her car out of the parking garage to pick up Felicia to head off on a little adventure. We stop at the gas station for Sam to fill'er on up, and people were all over the place. Like follow the flow of traffic, that's how life works. Off to the grocery store,...