Embrace the future

One of the more tempting things to do as time passes, particularly in times that brings about drastic changes in one's life, is to look fondly to the past and recall those as the golden days. While that's what memories are for, there are times when we have to stop clinging to the past and recognize that time will always march on...it doesn't stop for anyone. You may want to crystallize a moment forever, but that's not how the world works.

As someone stepping out into the 'real world', as it may be colloquially referred to, life is going to be markedly different from any of my past experiences. While I still have my parents to fall back on, I am effectively on my own. I am in charge of my own finances, my own job, my living arrangements, and everything else that pertains to my existence. In short, I am the master of my own fate. It's a big change from 8 years ago, when I was just entering high school and was, for all intents and purposes, still heavily dependent on my parents and others to get around in society. We all have to come a long way in a short time, but that's what growing up is about...and I'm not talking about 'growing up' in the sense where there are easy demarcations to reference - getting your license at 16, being crowned an adult at 18, or finally hitting the bars legally at 21. I'm talking about the process of maturation and responsibility, which goes at different speeds for all of us. It can be daunting to face the transition from being wholly dependent on others to having none but yourself to fall back on.

The key, though, is not to fear change - change is inevitable. Instead, you have to face the future knowing that you will be making your own way...that there is no defined path for any of us hereon out. What we do - and where we go from here - are now our decisions to make. These are our destinies to craft. And in the face of the inevitable, one must have no other reaction but to embrace it. I may prefer the blissfulness of not having to pay my own bills or feed myself, but that's not a reality that many - if any - of us live in. Is it going to be a walk in the park? Of course not; life never is, no matters what any TV shows may try to tell us otherwise. But can we run away from it? No...and that's why we have to move on in our lives and grow up in every sense of the word. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but if you take each step forward with confidence, then there's nothing to worry about.