Thankfulfor Check Marks (and the Stuff Inbetween)
Where do you see yourself in ten years? It’s a favorite question of potential employers, college admissions departments and the parents of your significant other, all of whom want to be sure that you’re not a couch-surfing loafer. But no matter how well intentioned your answer may be, sometimes life has other plans.
Ten—even twenty—years ago, I had some lofty goals for myself. Though my list of Things to Do Before I’m Thirty has undergone some significant revision since I first composed it over my childhood best friend’s Barbie Dream House, the gist is still much the same. See the world. Fall in love. Have a career I enjoy. Do something amazing I can brag about at my high school reunion. I’ve checked a few of the little things off of my list (climb a volcano and see the movie Casablanca) but most of the big ones are still notably unaccounted for.
However, there is one thing I’ve learned since I’ve stopped playing with Barbies: I have plenty of time. You can’t pack a lifetime’s worth of experiences into a few short years, nor should you want to. There are still a lot of things that I hope to accomplish in my life, but I’m thankful for the things I’ve already achieved, the friends I’ve made, the experiences had and the lessons learned. Being grateful doesn’t mean that I’m complacent; it only means that I can appreciate the things that weren’t on my list even while I’m taking steps to reach those that are.
Work for what you want, but be grateful for what you already have.
Image by Ana Campos
Tori is a student intern who will be working with the Thankfulfor team over the summer. She is a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she is studying graphic design.
