Be a Better Millenial aka Life is Too Short

I tweeted about this but here I am writing about it because going after what you want is so incredibly important. It’s also true that I’m surprised that more of my friends don’t pursue what they want.

I’m really torn on this “millenials do what they want” narrative because although I’m a millenial who mostly fits this description so many of my friends don’t. What I’ve come to realize is that my doing “what I want” comes from the ability to both identify and pursue what I truly want. Part self-awareness and part grit.

Identifying and pursing are equally important parts of the process and two distinct steps. There have been times in my life that I’ve identified what I wanted and not been able to pursue and times that I have pursued something I thought that I should want. Tip: pursuing things you think you should want is a great way to wake up in 2 years and think “WTF am I doing?”

Admittedly identifying what you want can be really hard. Sometimes it helps to start small. I spent the end of 2015 working towards being able to trail run out my front door and spend more time with people who are important to me. Life is better now.

I’ve watched friends struggle because they can’t decide. Forever waffling with limitless options and opportunities. To those who are paralyzed in decision making I suggest something I call the “what if principle”. It boils the decision down to this: I always choose the path I will wonder “what if” about more if I don’t take. It’s applicable to everything but for me it’s provided a #noragrats lens that’s really important to my life. What If’ing it doesn’t make the choice rational or smart, but it does make you be honest with yourself.

For those of you out there pursuing whatever your weird shit is: A+. For everyone else trust that it’s better on this side of the fence.