journal day 03

They say hindsight is 20/20, and with good reason- looking back at something always gives us a better view. We're often able to really see how our choices and decisions then shaped our today, and examine what we would have done differently given the chance. When looking back though, we often look way back, but for this exercise stay a little closer to present time and look back just 12 months. If you could go back just one year, what would you tell yourself? What advice would you offer about everything you've experienced?

Thanks again to Danielle for the awesome feature, and here's the original post.

Cherry blossoms in Victoria, BC.

Both Gabi and I keep private online journals that relate more to our personal lives than fun tidbits shared here, which makes LITERALLY looking back at last year quite simple.

I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that navigating your twenties is confusing as hell. In the three years that I’ve been in post-secondary, I’ve changed my mind about what I want to major in, and more importantly, what I want to be once I graduate, five times. After a teary return to Calgary in 2011, I set out to upgrade a few courses I hadn’t taken in high school in the hopes of being accepted into a Dietetics program. For some reason, even though math and science are my worst subjects, I decided that it was what I wanted to pursue. Fast forward to the middle of my first semester at Mount Royal and my first university-level Biology class, and I was once again tearfully confused about what I was doing with my life. That was right around this time last year. Since then, I was accepted into the Policy Studies program with the hope of working on food and agricultural policy post-graduation. Of course, six months later I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do either.

To myself one year ago, I’d like to say that things will sort themselves out…Eventually. Twenty-two years old is terribly young, and you have your entire life to figure things out. Not knowing what you want to do with your life is nothing to cry about—and it still isn’t here in the present.

Do what you love. Love what you do. The pieces will fall into place.
I’m sure of it.

- s

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If I could go back a year, I am not really sure what I would tell myself. This past year has been one of the most trying years I have ever had. While being twenty-something is a particularly confusing time for most people, my past year has also been a bit less conventional. I can say with some confidence that if it weren’t for such a supportive network around me, it would, and could have been so much worse.

I'd like to remind myself back then that whatever I experience is authentically ‘me’. That it is representative of my experience and life, and adds to what I can offer to the world. I know how that may seem so vague! To be honest, I am still processing and trying to understand everything that has happened in the past 12 months—which is what makes this exercise that much more difficult. I would tell myself to just ‘be me’ and to try not to judge myself so much in whatever difficulties I may encounter. I would also like to remind myself that regardless of how long it takes, having answers makes it easier to find solutions.

To myself one year ago: calm the fuck down. Things are still going to be hard next year! Save some of that energy for freaking out next year—cause guaranteed, life is going to throw something your way that you don’t think you’ll be able to handle. To myself now? Same advice applies.

- g