Birthdays are a funny thing. We oftentimes set goals or deadlines that focus on that magical date we started our journey in this world. We also put a lot of pressure to have the best day, when really, they’re more often than not pretty ordinary.
My birthday came and went this week with little fanfare, something I’ve relished in recent years. I worked a trip that included a layover in my hometown so I was able to sleep in my bed, snuggle my pup, and have breakfast with my mom. No balloons. No party. Not even a cake. It was great.
We think so much about where we’re supposed to be by a certain age in our lives. We compare ourselves to our friends — even strangers — trying to figure out who is “winning”. When in reality, we’re all running different races.
“Follow your compass, not the clock” is something I wrote down years ago, when I was young thing who thought she’d figured everything out before college graduation. Boy oh boy. But the statement remains valid. Why are we following this imagined timeline we’ve created in our minds? Why do we feel the need to compare where we are to where someone else is in? We all have our own experiences that caused us to be where we are, when we are.
Following your compass is so much more freeing than following a clock. Time is a construct the world agreed on to keep things organized, but when you really think about it, it’s just the earth continually turning round and round. It has nothing to do with frivolous goals or deadlines we’ve set for ourselves.
Following your compass allows you to make your own path. Trek your own journey. Plot your course. Be your own navigator, don’t let the world steal your map.
AAdventure Seeker 