i turn 25 this year — that's a whole quarter of what could be, if i'm lucky, my entire life. these are some lessons i want to carry with me. maybe they'll help you too <3
#1: you are not alone. no matter how physically or socially isolated you may seem at any given moment, there are many similar souls in this world. maybe you haven't met them yet, maybe you'll never meet them. but that doesn't mean they're not out there, somewhere on this earth, living their lives and maybe wondering too, if there is someone like them out there who would understand. and that thought can be quite comforting in it of itself.
#2: make room for serendipity. all of my most pure, enjoyable experiences have happened by chance. i wandered into the library for the first time because i was bored. i learned to play chess because i randomly followed a friend to the club one day. i've found favorite restaurants, music, and so much more without meaning to. certainly, some amount of planning was an important facilitator, which is why the objective is to make room for chance. giving it your space, your time, your attention.
#3: you are who you say you are. i've changed schools four times before university, then changed universities and majors. i've moved five times now. each time, i take it as an opportunity to reinvent myself, even just a little bit. the narrative you see yourself in is powerful. you can be the main character of your life, or someone who is barely a footnote. that level of agency can be scary and overwhelming, but it can also be liberating and exciting. so remind yourself everyday of who you are and be that person, even if you've never done it before.
#4: home can be anywhere. it's where your people are, and if you remember lesson #1, they could be anywhere and everywhere. it's home when you choose to be yourself. it's home when you make a mistake and it turns out it isn't the end of the world. it's home when you've just been sitting there for so long because you have nowhere else to be, really. so don't be afraid of traveling far and losing your way, because there are an infinite number of ways back.
#5: vienna waits for you. there's no need to rush. to grow up, to reach that next milestone, to see and do and be it all. the present moment may be imperfect, but it is yours right now in ways it will never be again. there are things that time will wait a little longer for, like a degree or a career, and there are things it will impatiently rip from your grasp, like a loved one or your health. so remember that life is happening right now.
💛 part 2/5 coming soon! 💛
