21 years later

Upon turning 21 yesterday.

I couldn’t help but spend the early part of today reflecting on how the entire journey has been so far.

Life is short, unexpected and difficult. The early part of your years in life are some of the most memorable and character changing. These are just some of the statements, or rather words of advice that are often thrust upon us as soon as those words begin to have meaning in our life.

And I don’t know about you, but these words are daunting acclamations when you’re just starting of in the world.

In reaching this milestone of 21, I’d like to say there is a more realistic way to look at life.

From the day we are born we on a journey – in every sense of the word.

Journey — an act of travelling from one place to another.

With the distance we have travelled marked largely by our age.

But unlike most journeys, although unique in our being, we don’t all start from the same place. Some of us begin with metaphoric bricks strapped to our backs, necks and ankles. While for others a pair of fresh, new Nike Gliders is handed to them so as to begin their travel. But this is by no means important.

Because in the early part of our life our journey has no clear direction yet. We don’t understand the terrain, the people who have shaped this land, and most importantly ourselves. Therefore the first step is to mould such understandings.

Why am I even on this journey? Where do I actually want to head towards?

This is what I think should be our goal during the early part of life, answering such questions, and developing understandings behind your answers. And it is through this process that bricks can be broken, and Nike Gliders can be damaged.

Ultimately though, we all get to a checkpoint. Having deciphered part of our character, educated ourselves in whichever form, and achieved some life experience – you start to unconsciously create a road map to your journey which often by force soon becomes very conscious.

Every journey needs points of direction.

Don’t be mistaken though, road-mapping is tough. You will undoubtedly get through hundreds and hundreds of small and large iterations. Whilst in all this time, you can’t be sure whether you have been travelling up and straight, or down and in a circle.

Metaphorically speaking, that’s what I’ve felt my 21 years has been like so far. Road-mapping.

Who am I? What am I really capable of doing? How much do I understand of this land and people who live on it and in turn the world that has been created. What impact can I have on this earth?

In starting to know these things about myself and the world around me. I begin to build an internal compass that is weighted towards true north and a map that leads to my individual endpoint.

The people you meet along the way, will form a significant part of that road-mapping. Suggesting areas to erase and places to visit, and most dangerously destinations they don’t think you can attend to, simply because of the limits they have set for themselves.

Ultimately though it’s left in your hands.

But on turning 21, I feel I have now sketched a pretty ok road map. That has taken into account some of the foreseen and unforeseen obstacles along the way, whilst never ruling out I could achieve the impossible – the first person to tread new land. I know, I am Limitless.

Now, I think it’s time to begin making strides towards that destination. The next 21 years is about getting as close to ‘there’, as possible. Bear Grylls style! Now, I recognise ‘there’ might change. But having a guide to ‘there’ is essential. Along my journey, I intend to take people along with me, to their destination. Helping as much as possible to guide those who seem lost, whether younger or older, disabled or abled, black or white. It doesn’t matter. Being inspired by the people who are further along their journey. But in all, feeling happy and content that life is short, unexpected and difficult. Whilst also being exciting, loving and joyful.

I know with God as my guiding star, my family and friends as my helping hand and my internal compass always pointing to true north (ie happiness), that I will get ‘there’ soon.

Here’s to the next stage on this journey.

Thank you all, for the memories we have shared, 21 years later.