Well said, Rick, but as I was reading the 19 and 20+ year olds posting "My life didn't work out how I'd planned" I almost rolled my eyes...
I'm truly not being a major witch but the truth of the matter is this, it's really going to be quite some time before you realize life didn't work out for you.
I am turning 46 in July. I'm not afraid of people knowing how old I am as I've earned every year of wisdom I've gained in this world.
By the age of 25 I was firmly ensconced in a position as an Asst. Comptroller and my husband was three years into an eventual 20 year Air Force career. We had three kids and I was light years away from what I "imagined my life would be" when I was in High School.
We rolled along like this for some time and I commiserated to myself that this wasn't the life I planned for myself but I carried on. I had always wanted to be a writer but was never able to take the plunge due to raising kids and chasing my military husband around the world with each new duty station. After my husband retired from the USAF, on a whim, I became a sports writer for my local newspaper as I played and coached sports heavily over the years. I was fortunate I could write, having minored in Creative Writing in college (Imagine that, for an accounting major) but I was pleasing myself.
This all changed when, at the age of 42, after months of mystery illness (at a time when I was becoming comfortable with it all and my place in life) I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (which is an auto-immune disorder NOT arthritis) and suddenly, I was disabled and couldn't work any longer. My entire life became doctor's appts and figuring out how to come to terms with being "disabled".
After a year of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to pursue the whole "writing thing". I now have 22 published articles on my resume and they are mostly travel related. I am considered self-employed and have never been happier. That's not to say I was truly "unhappy" with my life before because I love my kids and they got a mom who was there for them.
But... In looking back on my life, everything I did led to my being a successful travel writer who is self-employed. I see the whole accounting/taxes stuff made me able to do it for myself. All the travel hither and yon helps me figure out great stories to pitch (and a great deal of my articles have been about places we were stationed over the years) and I can work around my disability. On my bad days, I just don't work. On my good days, I write and travel. Oh, and all the travel over the years as a military wife? I can plan a trip and save money doing it that amazes my friends.
I recently interviewed a race car driver who led a varied and diverse life. Ultimately, all the education and road racing and other things he did up until he became co-owner of Dempsey Racing meshed to help make him a well-rounded, successful driver.
So, youngsters ;-) Life has a way of working out and it's usually when you least expect it. You'll hit about 35 or 40 and realize you're exactly where you were supposed to be all along.
Life's a roller coaster but if you just put on your seat belt and enjoy the ride, it all comes out okay in the end.
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