This world can be really intimidating sometimes. We all have immense pressure on our shoulders, and it can become too much at times.

We all have this plan in our head, and this idea of what we will achieve at a certain age. At the age of 18, I thought I would be living in my own apartment by now. But at the age of 23, I’m not even close. At the age of 18, I thought I would be in a loving relationship. And at the age of 23, I am (happily)single as f$%#. At the age of 18, I thought I would be in New York by now. And I’m not even close to that.

So far, even though my plans haven’t come true, I’m still happy. I’m happier than I have ever been. Because I have accepted that plans sometimes don’t work. And sometimes, they take time. They fall through the cracks. They smash apart. And it’s ok. 

I don’t have a lot of what I thought I would have by now but, that’s how life is supposed to be.

You’re never supposed to be always at the top. You have to work hard. You have to work for what you want. And sometimes, even that isn’t enough.

You need to be patient.

Patient that one day, the hard work will not be for nothing. Patient that one day, you’ll be more independent and you’ll be able to actually pay your rent on time. But, it’s not time for that yet. But don’t worry, that day will eventually come. Just not when you think it will. 

In certain aspects, I don’t have my act together. At least according to my 18 year old self. But to my 23 year old self, I’m where I’m supposed to do. Heck, I’m happy where I am now. I have a job I adore. I have friends I adore. And a new dog to adore. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m living life happily and patiently.

Worrying about what I don’t have is going to get me nowhere. I might as well focus on the now. I might as well smile at what my life looks like now.

We have to be more grateful for what we have right now. We need to be more appreciative of what we have achieved already. And what we will achieve in the future. You’re allowed to have goals. You’re allowed to want more. To crave more. But, you’ve already come so far.

You’re surviving. You’re laughing. You’re breathing. You are living.

And sometimes, that can be enough.

You don’t have to always be planning for your next adventure, and you don’t always have to put a timeline on your life. It’s ok to take a breather. It’s ok to stop. To look around you, and feel ok because you’re doing just fine. Maybe you aren’t where you want to be right now, and you don’t have what you imagined you would have by now, but you’re doing alright. And sometimes alright is ok too.

Keep fighting for what you want. Keep on craving what you need. Keep on surviving through each day knowing that something better is yet to come. But right now, the present is pretty damn good too.