Life happens.

When we're children, our parents and older siblings set a pretty standard example of how a successful life should be lived.

1.) Make good grades.

2.) Get into a great college.

3.) Have the time of your life.

4.) Graduate in four years.

5.) Get a job that makes serious bank.

They work hard and do what it takes to get through this universally known life checklist. They warn us of the inevitably difficult things we'll face. College Applications. Pre-Calculus. Trig. Interviews. Getting the job. All subjects of discussion that we as humans are exposed to at an abnormally young age. 

The thing we aren't warned about, however, is the hardest thing we'll experience. There aren't any college courses offered about, and if there are, it's for majors that won't make us much of a living. Mom and Dad never talk about it because they don't want to scare us. Your older brother doesn't talk to you about it because you're too young, and there's no way you'd understand what he's going through. Life. That's what we're never prepared for. Not nearly enough.

"Life happens." A phrase we tend to hear more from our friends and colleagues as we get older. "I planned on going to college, but then life happened, and I had a baby and got married." "I tried to get my BA in business admin, but I partied way too much, and I failed my finals. I guess life happens." 

Or my personal favorite, and personal situation...

I planned on going to the school of my dreams and getting out of a small town. I got the grades. I landed internships. I volunteered a lot. But I still couldn't find happiness with where I was. I still missed my family like crazy. And now? I'm transferring back home. Something I said I would NEVER do. I guess sometimes, life just kind of happens.

I think most members of society have this irrational fear of what everyone will think of them. "Oh man, what will they say when I move back home? What will they say when they figure out I'm just going to be a teacher?"

Well. I don't know about anyone else, but living in the eyes of my quote/unquote peers has been far more stressful than growing a pair of lady balls and doing what I want. Which I did! And I'm continuing to do as of late.

I opened my eyes and said goodbye to a manipulative relationship. I took a chance and fell in love (again) with my high school crush. And somehow, I managed to make him do the same. :)

I let go of some people who were pretty toxic to my life. I took a leap of faith and changed majors in the MIDDLE of my junior year. 

I grew in my faith and learned to stop picking myself up, and to let God.

And finally, I swallowed my pride and said, "Holy cow, I want to go home," and sent out transfer applications.

Hello. My name is Tiffany, and I hardly know myself anymore. But as scary as that is, I kind of seriously love it. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is never be afraid to redefine who you are. Never think it's too late to start over. Living life as a foreign character in a rigidly scripted play is tough. We grow up our whole lives thinking that breaking character reflects emotional instability. Or even weakness. But the hard truth is it's easy to live a lie. Living how you'd like, how you'd actually like and not how you claim you'd like to live, takes bravery of a whole new different standard.

Here's to starting over. Cheers. Love Always, Tiffany.