"It's not a race, it's a Journey."

So today I became watery eyed as my college adviser went through my credits and told me I would graduate in May. After my freshman year (which was an #epicfail) the thought of graduating on time, let alone graduating seemed intangible. All of my family has gone to college but none have a degree. NONE. I entered college with a slight God complex believing that anything I put my hands to would turn to gold. I was great (in my mind) and nothing could hinder that.

That is until real life hit. College has been THE most humbling experience in my life. And surprisingly I still have a level of pride or arrogance that gets in my way. Life to me was a race. All I thought about was how I could secure that ridiculously well paying job or how could I hustle and make the most money. Or how could I be the top student? The one everyone envied. All I wanted was the absolute best. Not to say that’s a bad thing but I had the arrogance/pride to match. I was the ish and I planned to stay that way.

I still don't know why I needed to learn this lesson, as I watch the same people who were with me steamroll ahead. I take that back. I'm a better person for it. Less self indulged, I guess.

Anyway, my mother said this to me this morning as I tried to hold back tears telling her the good news about my impending graduation. And I thought to myself that this quote could be applied to this blogging journey. A race can be defined as a contest of speed or any contest or competition, whereas a journey is defined as passage or progress from one stage to another. I believe there are stages of happiness. Each time I blog or meet a milestone or jump a hurdle I've reached a new stage of liking and taking care of myself. I'm not trying to get a quick fix to happiness or compete against others in the arena of health. I just want to walk along enjoying each newly acquired stage. Happy that I'm not where I was before.


So if I could offer any advice. Figure out where in your life you might be doing things for other people's approval or moving on someone else's time line. And remind yourself that to truly embrace where you’re going and what you’re doing you have to acknowledge the journey. Nothing has an easy button.