Yesterday, I was hanging out with one of my cousins, and she was filling me in on all the details of her life. She’s about to be a freshman in high school, and although I know there’s some hesitation about all the unknowns, you can tell she’s so excited. And I don’t blame her!

It doesn’t take much to conjure that feeling. The feeling of knowing you’re about to do something totally new and that there are SO MANY fun things ahead of you. I mean when I think of high school, it feels like my whole life happened in those four years. From finally getting that driver’s license to homecomings & proms. From first loves & heartbreaks to graduations & applying to colleges. There’s so many life things that shape you into the person you’re going to be when you step out into “adult world” and it is exciting. So exciting, in fact, that as we were talking about these upcoming years of her life I honestly felt an unwelcome pang of jealousy stirring in me.

Don’t get me wrong, there are zero parts of me that really want to go back and do high school again.  Mostly because in between all those fun things I listed there are countless early mornings, homework assignments, tests that make you question everything you’ve ever learned, and AP exams that make or break you. (As if college is that much different LOL.) There are so many things that weren’t the worst things I’ve ever done, but I totally don’t want to go do them again.

What I really think the jealousy stemmed from is a longing for that excitement and anticipation. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for? Something to daydream about, to look forward to, to know that even though you have no idea what it holds, it could be the best time of your life. I love that feeling, and if you haven’t felt it in a while, I think you start to wonder when it’s coming back.

As I sat down to write this post, there were a couple things that I knew I needed to remind myself of.

First of all, honestly, this life isn’t built to be crazy exciting every day. 

When you think about it, our lives are made up of small moments of overwhelming excitement and long periods of making the best with what you have. It’s kind of an underwhelming conclusion to come to, that your life isn’t meant to be exciting every day. I mean, what a drag right?

But I like to think that one of the great aspects of life is the potential for real, genuine contentedness. To the outsider’s perspective, being content may come across as lazy, unambitious, or boring. But, honestly, when you find your groove in this world – when you find a routine you love with the people you love in a place that you love – why would you push yourself into to a state of discontent just for the sake of it?

If you’re someone who just can’t deal with being content, or maybe you just haven’t found that place for yourself yet, then more power to you! Keep it going. Do everything you’re dreaming of and don’t stop. But, if you’re in a time in your life when things are really just clicking – don’t sweat it. I think you’re doing just fine!

The second thing I have to remember (and maybe the more important of the two) is that life is not downhill upon high school graduation. I mean, duh, but hear me out.

Since June 4, 2015, I have had so many exciting things happen and it’s only been three years! I’ve moved to college, voted, made best friends, signed a lease, road tripped to NOLA, watched friends get married, seen the Grand Canyon, turned 21, and more!

Granted, these are all very college things to do. So, could you argue that life is downhill upon college graduation? Yeah, maybe. Except what a bummer would that be right??

I’ve had this thought many times over the last year, ever since realizing that my college career is more than halfway over (…I’m not crying, you’re crying.) I’ve felt myself get so scared that all the fun things that living within minutes – and even footsteps – of all my very best friends has to offer will be the time of my life and here on out might be nothing short of a snoozefest.

But all that is is my fear of the future talking. It’s my fear of having no idea what post-grad life looks like. It’s my worry that my friends will scatter, time will pass, and I’ll look back and long for these times. And maybe that’s a little true. Honestly, I hope and pray that I look back on these years of my life so fondly, that I remember how great these times were and how much fun we had. But what I pray for even more is that what’s ahead is so much greater. And you know what? I’ve come to a point where I believe that will be true.

I realize that it’s easy for me, at 21 years old, to convince myself that I have so much to look forward to. Because I do. I can’t wait to land a great job, move somewhere new, fall in love, get married, and experience everything that has to offer. I know that if you’re reading this and are decades farther down the road than I am, it may be harder to anticipate what’s ahead and whether or not it will be great and exciting. But, regardless, I fully believe that my life is not downhill from here, and neither is yours.

I hope you find something great & love every moment – big and small!

xoxo,

Samantha