what the wind did
Chicago was never THE goal, but it was a goal. I know for some people Chicago really is the end goal (good for you I am happy you know what you want!) and I was once on the same spectrum as them, I too thought Chicago might be the end goal. The forever home. But goals change over time, although we are sometimes scared to admit it because change can be scary.
Change shouldn't be scary though and I hate that society has set that as the norm. Because in reality, things are constantly changing. The waves in the ocean are constantly changing, the phase of the moon is constantly changing, and so forth. In this case, the moon also affects the waves and that's even more crazy. But, that change is necessary. That change is beautiful as is the change that is happening in your own life as well even if you don’t see it yourself. We need change to grow and experience life. Sometimes you have to be put in the fast lane to really experience life.
But back to Chicago, I packed my bags and headed out for Chicago in October of 2021. And with that, brought so many adventures and struggles. But as the saying goes, you can't have good days without some bad. I left my family, friends, and basically everything I ever knew in Indiana. My family didn't like the city much so we never got out to Chicago as much as I would have liked, so in a way going to the city was me walking in blindly.
Don't get me wrong, I think EVERYONE deserves an education. But sometimes, I think what they teach us in school does not prepare us enough. Yes, learning the history of something that happened 500 years ago is great because it teaches us “not to do it again” but what about what is happening right now? A lot of us don't take school that seriously-- we copy off homework answers and barely study for tests and just wing it, so teaching us the bare minimum of “personal finance” is not enough.
When you are inside the classroom, you are all just student's taking the same academic class. But outside the classroom, we all have our different struggles, our different personalities. Some people's parents will help them learn things they are not taught in school. But for some, that's not the case.
Now I know it's not the schools fault though, they shouldn't have to teach you everything. Your parents should be there to hold your hand, but what if they aren't? Then who is there to help?
I am still finding the answer to that question. I was thrown into everything very blindly-- I had no idea how to do anything but I’ve always had to be more independent from a young age than I would have liked and I figured it out… barely. There are still things I mess up with, how could I not? I am still trying to figure out taxes and loans and all that fun stuff that life has to offer.
But the reality of it, there is no guideline to life. There may be a right way to do taxes but there's not a right way to live life, and that is something I am trying to learn and accept. If anything, the failures and “downs” of my life have just helped me live life more in a way. It's like I am a cat with nine lives, I get to live and experience different storylines, options, and outcomes.
So that leads to if Chicago isn't the goal, then what is?
And quite frankly, I have no idea what is in store for me. A lot of people have game plans that they curate and stick to, then there's me. I never really have a plan when it comes to my life. I thought I did in high school but that changed, I don't know if they came with high school ending and being “thrown into the real world” or if it's because of the pandemic or because I was having to really be an adult. I thought I knew what I wanted to do in college, and that led to me hating what I was studying and dropping out. I thought I wanted to live in Chicago forever, but that also ended up with me looking to move out of state.
I am very much a play-it-by-ear type of person but that's by total accident. I used to think I hated that but since I lived like that for so long, I’ve become accustomed to it. My friends know this about me; one day you'll catch me going from Chicago to Michigan at the last minute. Then sometimes you’ll find out months later that when I went on my Florida trip in March, I actually ended up taking a road trip to Pennsylvania and got a speeding ticket in Virginia. But from the mindset of an air sign-- let me see where the wind takes me. And ironically, the wind took me to the Windy City.
So on to a new and exciting adventure. I am saying goodbye to Chicago and hello to whatever comes next. I would say I am ready for you, but I most certainly am not and don't think I will ever be ready for whatever comes my way. But like we said, that’s kind of exciting.
To sum it all up, “Trust the process, enjoy the journey. The journey is the best part, I promise.”
-- Xoxo, Jade
