Just Do You

I had a revelation today.
I consider it a good day when this sort of thing happens, and as it is 4:30 in the morning, I'd say this was turning up to be a great day indeed.
I am currently sitting in the airport, and as per usual, I was scanning my various social media platforms. As a good friend (virtual of course) tweeted the other day, my Facebook feed is "turning into one big wedding/baby/graduation announcement."
It's true.
But that's beside the point.  The point I am trying to make on this fine Thursday morning is that we, as individuals, apply importance to things in our lives, and the amount of importance we place on various "things" dictates how it falls in our list of priorities.
Shocking, I know. But hear me out.
What is happening in your life right now is the most important thing.
If you are a parent, the most important thing might (and probably should be) parenting.
But, If you are not a parent, you won't be placing as much importance on the matter.
In my life, as my marriage article so eloquently presents, I have been pushed to pursue certain goals and work towards special events. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be and been encouraged to be a mom. That is something I want, but it should't be the most important thing in my life. Not yet.
I don't have kids. But what I do have, is a career. I have goals within my career that should be getting as much nurturing and focus as a child would. It's something that is important to me. I have milestones in my career that I anticipate and look forward to in the same way a new parent anticipates their child's first steps. *
When I place importance on the goals in my own life, I am making that goal a priority. It's not to say the others are less important, but they have a different level on my priority list.
This idea that someone else might have a life outside of your focus, or value things that aren't important to you, seems simplistic at best. But, day after day, each of my social media platforms is flooded with claims that "being a mom is the best thing ever", or "getting married is the best thing to ever happen to me."
I'm sure these things are great, but just because they are the best for you, doesn't mean they are the best for everyone. OR even better, maybe they aren't great for everyone at that time. I'm happy to share your success, and I'm even happier when your accomplishments make you happy. I'm not happy when my success are deemed less worthy, or I'm made to feel bad about the life choices I'm making.
I've chosen a path in my life that focuses on different things than many of the friends I grew up. I'm focusing on my career and taking time to better myself, not because I don't want to get married. That's not it at all, I've just picked out a different hand of cards.
My advice, for all you looking for that (probably not many, I get it) is to just do you. Figure out what makes you tick and work with that. If you want to travel, do it. If you want to have babies, have them! If you want to try your hand at all of it, manage it the way you want. No one else has to live with your choices.
I'm not saying be reckless, but be adventurous. Don't let anyone else tell you how to live your life. Not even me, as oxymoronic as that sounds.
Even more important than living your own life, is supporting those who choose differently. No matter the choices, we all could use the support of a friend or loved one, even if we know they don't agree. It strengthens my desire to be better and push myself when I know there are people standing behind me cheering me on.

Until next time,

H.

*I am assuming it's the same, as noted, I don't have children, and so I don't know everything.