“The only constant in life is change.” This is an entry that may end up being more personally telling than intended, but I don’t know. I’m not attempting to write about myself, is what I’m saying, I believe I’m putting into words a feeling that we, young people in various careers, experience-and may be particularly true to those of us who work in the arts.
I am 23 years old, have a great career, great friends, and am in a wonderful situation. However, I am hoping to move and enter an entirely different phase of my life. This was inspired, in part, because I began to feel comfortable. I began to notice that I was no longer pushing myself, and I was not living up to who I could be. Was I a lazy ne’er-do-well (like that? It’s that kind of clever language that keeps you coming back)? No. But I was allowing myself to become content, and at this young age, that is not something I want. I don’t want to be settling, or comfortable. I want to be challenged, and growing. I want to hunt new opportunities, and experience new things while I can.
I say ‘while I can’ because I am currently unencumbered. I am not dating anyone. I do not have a regular job. My family is spread out, literally, across the globe. Hell, I’m not even under a lease. At this stage in my life, I have absolutely nothing holding me to anywhere, and thus, nothing holding me back. This is not meant as an attack on those I know who ARE settling down, have significant others, and are finding stability in their lives. I applaud you. Perhaps this is the part where my point begins to veer towards my specific choice to work in the arts.
I should mention, I’m writing this particular entry from my hotel room in Seattle, a country away from Washington, D.C. (though I am in Washington…I don’t like this, it’s confusing), where I’ve come to call home. I’m a creature who needs change and stimulation in their life. Those new and varied experiences affect my vision, and my art, and thus, my work. As people, we are shaped by experiences, and so it only serves to reason that the more varied those experiences are, the more interesting our shape will become. However, I recognize the other argument, and know that many people are in fields of work that require devotion, and commitment to consistency.
I am not implying a state of travel and flux creates cooler people, and stability is for the boring and dull. If anything, I am expressing how thankful I am that my work allows me to live in such a state of fluidity. I love the fact that I will be moving to an entirely new part of the country in about 6 months, and cannot wait to see what will come from that experience. I cannot wait to see what kind of designer, and person, I will be because of it.
Am I saying I will never settle down, and become a 21st century nomad? No. That would be awesome, but no. I’m one of the few people who can comfortably say that I cannot wait until I’m in my 30s, and, with any luck, have found the woman I’m going to spend my life with, and live a slightly less crazy life. I’ll say it-I look forward to having kids some day. But knowing that is part of my future does not mean I am going to chase it. I’m going to be a better husband, and a better father, having lived as full and experienced life as I can.
Live your life for yourself, and never stop challenging yourself. Trust that your life will work out how it is supposed to. Life will surprise you with so many glorious and beautiful things. I promise.
If not, I’ll buy you a beer.
And now, here are a couple funny pictures I found on the interwebs.
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