The Now and the Not Yet

“This is your life. Do what you want and do it often.
If you don’t like something, change it.
If you don’t like your job, quit.
If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV.
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.
Stop over-analyzing, life is simple.
All emotions are beautiful.
When you eat, appreciate every last bite.
Life is simple.
Open your heart, mind and arms to new things and people, we are united in our differences.
Ask the next person you see what their passion is and share your inspiring dream with them.
Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself.
Some opportunities only come once, seize them.
Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.
Life is short, live your dream and wear your passion.”

~Holstee Manifesto

Lately, I find myself constantly thinking about what the future holds for me. And oftentimes I forget I have a NOW that I can fully take advantage of.

Before I started college, everything was already planned out for me. My parents decided which program and school I should attend to. It was more of a “where-my-brother-goes-I-go” decision. I didn’t mind because I knew they had my best interests at heart. I did not have a dream school nor a career that I had a special interest in anyway. Years after, I became a nurse and worked in that profession without any qualms. I was actually good at my job, however I wasn’t entirely passionate about it, if I’m really being honest. It was one of the most rewarding professions but there were days when I was merely floating through work, going through my daily routine, with less enthusiasm and energy. I did not put much thought into it until about four years ago.

So I decided to expand my horizons by pursuing teaching. Not long after, I got my professional license. I always had a keen interest on teaching and learning. I guess I could say, my life had been full of surprises. I always thought I had everything figured out when I was younger. I used to create a timeline for everything. My every move carefully calculated–when I’ll graduate, get my own place, travel the world, get married and have kids. When I came to Canada in 2016, I would have pursued my profession immediately, but I couldn’t afford to go back to school full-time while financially supporting myself and my family back home. Put simply, I put my career on hold due to financial constraints and partly due to career uncertainty. Besides, I wasn’t totally sure it was what I wanted at that time. When you hit a roadblock, you are most likely to find a detour. However, in my case, life showed me a completely new direction. Now, I’m older, I finally know what I want to do with my life. It took me nearly 4 years to gain perspective. With that being said, it will probably take me another four or more to finally accomplish that goal. So, yeah, this is me taking the very long and winding road. If you ask me why, honestly I don’t know why I’m doing this to myself. Haha I just keep reminding myself that it’s never too late to create the life that I want and find my place in the world.

Here’s to being loyal to our dreams and never giving up!