They got married, lived happily ever after, and had many children.
Who hasn’t heard a fairy tale that ends this way? From our earliest childhood, we’re taught to envision the path we should follow in this way. This model is presented as the ideal of success.
Every good story is sure to feature ambitious young people pursuing extensive studies, landing a top job at a major company, and finding true love. They then settle into a nice little suburban home, get married, and finally start a family. All of this takes place in perfect happiness, without a single worry, because everything has been meticulously planned to avoid any surprises.
It’s all very nice, but in real life, things don’t always go that way.
Guess what? Unexpected things do happen! And that path might not be the right one for you either.
As for me, I didn’t follow it to the letter. I sometimes catch myself blaming myself for not doing things in the right order, telling myself that this or that would have turned out better if I hadn’t tried to skip steps and rush things.
The desire to start a family had been burning inside me for so many years. Before I knew it, my first little angel had made his way into our lives a few months before I graduated. One plus one equals two—a degree in hand, but no job in my field. My career would have to wait—family comes first!
Then two, then three little ones under our roof. My professional life swept under the rug.
Today, I look back to take stock. It’s been more than three years since I earned my college degree, and I still don’t have a job that lives up to my expectations. A below-average salary, a life going a hundred thousand miles an hour as I try to make progress on all fronts. I’m treading water; I’m doing my best.
No romantic stroll symbolizing our fiery love, either. No time, no money. Any excuse is good enough to put ourselves last. All our energy, time, and savings are invested in our children.
Above all, we want them to have everything they need, to be adorable, well-educated, more than spoiled, and, above all, loved.
We didn’t follow the beaten path. On the map, we decided to blaze our own little dirt trail through the brush. Yeah! We decided to follow our instincts. To live at the rhythm of what made our hearts race.
There’s no magic formula, you know. What’s good for you might not be good for someone else. And even if you decide to take the nice paved road lined with signs to reassure you, you might still run into obstacles. Things might not go as you planned; you might have to go off the beaten path to get back on track.
It’s also possible that the well-trodden path just doesn’t speak to you at all. So do things your own way, and above all, don’t have any regrets! You know what’s best for you, girl!
You might make mistakes, you might stumble, you might struggle at times. But if you follow your heart, you’ll always find your way back to happiness. And keep in mind that it’s never too late to put yourself first. If you feel lost because you’ve been charging headlong through life with your eyes closed, if you feel overwhelmed because everything’s moving too fast, if you feel remorse because you haven’t reached the goals you set for yourself, know that on every road, there’s an exit. You have the right to take it once and for all and catch your breath. You have time to spread your map out on the table and look at where you started, the path you’ve traveled, and where you want to go. You’ll see that there are still plenty of unexplored paths you could take.
Today, I’d like to tell you: focus on your own path. Not the one people point to in fairy tales. Yours. The part you’ve already completed and the part yet to come. Do what’s right for you, and above all, be proud. Believe in yourself. You have all the potential to make it happen.
Some people will judge you, some will mock you, and some will look down on you. Turn your back on them and keep going. I promise you that just a little further down the road, others will love you, encourage you, and support you. They’ll share your vision and your happiness. They’ll walk with you on a gentler, more colorful path, all the way to your destination.
Have a safe journey