I was talking to someone the other day. We were doing the whole “get to know you” introduction run around- and upon discussion of the college years, I asked him what he had studied.
“Film.” He responded.
However, somewhere along the way of his collegiate experience, he decided to make the shift towards a more “typical” career path- ultimately switching over to financial planning (or something of the sorts).
I get it, I do- changing your mind about something. It is bound to happen and in fact, is inevitable. As we grow and experience new things it’s my hope, actually, that we find what we do and don’t like, and ultimately make those decisions to implement that proper alteration in our lives for the better.
So, where am I going with this?
Well, very quickly after this person spoke of their study/career change, he almost immediately cut in-
“Not a day goes by that I don’t regret that decision.”
My heart sank a little. Because although we mustn’t have regrets- as we cannot change the past- I couldn’t help but feel sad. If I don’t make it clear enough when I type away on these pages before me (and now you), I’ve come to believe life- as cliche as some would say it sounds- is about finding what sets your soul on fire. If you cringed at reading that, let me put it differently.
I have come to find that life is a lot better, when we place a focus and spend time on those things that make our heart flutter a little more than usual, or even just widen our eyes a tad more than they typically sit. The things that make two hours feel like five minutes, and make inhaling and exhaling, well… just easier.
The truth is, I think over time it’s very possible that this thing, or these things, can change. I also think that sometimes, the vast majority doesn’t quite know what that thing even is yet- and that’s okay.
I do, however, find vast importance in the search of it- within all of us.
That regret that he has, tells me he truly found at least one of the things- his thing- that gives a certain purpose to his existence. I guess, in ways, there’s a beauty in discovering how the career change ultimately conveyed the importance film truly had in his life, but there’s also a momentary melancholy feeling in the reality that certain parts of it were let go all of those years ago. That the pursuit of it became no more- and now he spends every day searching for it again.
But I guess what I’m trying to get to here is why that change happened. It’s one thing to just feel lost, not quite know which is right or left, and just start changing- constantly- just to attempt to figure out the journey we’re all on. But it’s another thing, when the outside world begins to pressure you and tell you you’re wrong- that the path you’re choosing or the decision you’re making isn’t the norm. It’s too hard. It doesn’t make you enough money. “You won’t be happy.”
Yeah… because the outside world knows so well what makes your inner clock tick. Ha.
In the end, it all works out, right? He can’t go back and change that decision- and in my brutally honest perspective, he shouldn’t. It’s about where the journey now pushes forward.
Before finishing our conversation, I was left feeling a bit more content as it was shared that he is currently discovering ways he can reimplement film back into his life. Perhaps even may intertwine what he does now, with the film industry- finding a (hopefully) happy medium. I’m confident he will figure it out and it will- as annoying as it sounds- all workout how it is meant to.
And amongst this share, I believe important to note I acknowledge that this situation is in fact something much outside of myself. Not my life. Not my situation. And most definitely not my book of life to write. But, it was a conversation that sparked me- got me thinking, ya know?
Just about the importance of the little things, the different things. The things that make us more, well… us. Unique. Interesting. You get the point. And then it made me think about those outside voices that unfortunately sometimes swerve us down a wrong- or different– road, perhaps.
The truth of the matter is, we’re all just figuring it out- and I think the world would work a whole lot better when we realize that each of our uniqueness is our superpowers.
