happily ever now

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Lean in close, because I’m yelling in a whisper.

Life is hard. Growing up is harder. And I think someone forgot to tell us.

When you go to college, you’re told it will be the most fun four years of your life. And then afterwards, you’ll morph from this fun and hip caterpillar into a responsible, happy, settled adult butterfly. You’ll end up with your soulmate and a fantastic job. Because after all… you did everything you were supposed to during college… despite drinking too much you made good grades, got involved, stayed true to your values, explored your athleticism, and even went on dates (oh the horror stories).

No one mentions that your 20s are TOUGH. No one tells you that 95% of people don’t find their perfect job right away, that you probably won’t make a ton of money, and that no – your prince charming won’t in fact appear out of thin air (and if he does, no one warns you he may steal your soul and break your heart… so watch out for that sneaky SOB anyway). No one tells you that your “happily ever after” may still be light years away.

So why does the quarter-life crisis leave us wishing away years of our life so we can hurry and get to the pot of gold at the end of the adult rainbow? At the risk of sounding trite, life is a journey, not a destination. And if we don’t find ways to enjoy it now, one day we’ll find there’s no joy left.

So carpe diem, right? It’s time to create my own joy… day to day. From Braves opening day to ESPN’s College Gameday, one marathon to the next, summer seasonals to winter brews, spring cd releases to fall musical tours. Life is not easy, but by doing whatever it takes to live happily ever now, we will at least enjoy the ride.