I like goals. I have always set milestones for myself. I'm really addicted to making lists and checking them off. Timelines for achievements have always dictated my decisions. But at the end of the day, there's no rules to this thing.
There's no law telling us when or how to do anything.
In fact - most of the things I told myself I would do by now are in my past or somewhere in my future. I've gotten big jobs before I thought I would. I've not gotten married before I was 30. And all that's taught me about the rules, is that there are no rules.
Getting my dream job also crushed me. It taught me dreams aren't always what you think they are.
Not getting married at 23 taught me I am so much more than the relationship I am in.
All of the rules I set for myself, are teaching me that there are no rules to life.
When it comes to milestones, they are not always what you would expect.
My career is the longest craziest journey I could never have imagined. And I'm not done yet.
My love life is every evolving and so much fun to experience as I decide what works for me.
When you think about it, really try to understand the rules society or your family or even yourself has set - do they make sense? What happens if you don't follow them? Does the world end? Do you lose all hope of happiness? You don't.
I haven't followed a lot of the rules I set for myself. And the truth is - a lot of the rules I in fact have set in place for me. Nobody has set them for me. My parents never told me I had to be a Doctor or a lawyer or anything but what I wanted. They never threatened to withhold love because I wasn't the best at something. I put myself in these situational expectations and have told myself if I don't achieve them, I am not following the rules of my life, and thus failing.
But here I am - breaking almost every single rule I ever set - and I didn't die. I am not failing. I'm not miserable. Nobody shames me. I've not lost my opportunity at having it all. The odd thing is - I've created a new chance at a new future. With no rules to follow, just dreams and joys to chase. Without the forced set of constraints, I'm free to see what I'm really made of because I can venture outside the expectations I held myself accountable for. Without the rules, there are no limits.
The rules of life are different for everyone. And they aren't set in stone. The rules are what you decide they are. They are ever evolving. And they are damn sure meant to be broken. And if you're bold enough, erased.
Don't ever let someone tell you that there are rules to anything. The only rule is that there are no rules. Get out there and prove it.