On 15 June 2012, my life changed. Quietly, but irrevocably. If you blinked, you probably missed it. The change was subtle, but its ripples can be felt even today, more than two years later.
On Friday, 15 June 2012, the universe started nudging me into a certain direction. First little by little and then suddenly all at once, the path of my life shifted to get me where I am today. On 15 June 2012, my life changed, whether I realised it at the time or not. On 15 June 2012, my first article was published in The Namibian.
Looking back at my life before that day, I doubt I would ever have imagined that I’d be where I am today. Not only career-wise, but in every single aspect of my life. I was a student, not quite sure of myself yet, and I was still wondering whether journalism was really for me. But I was winging it, as I sometimes do, and it was working out. I had dreams that – if I was able to look into the future to today – would have seemed completely opposite to what my life is now. But life comes at you fast and sometimes, you have to change direction on the fly. Whether it’s by a millimetre or by a mile.
Growing up, I had many plans, goals and ambitions. Some have been abandoned, others have been laughed off as childish fantasies while a select few have been realised. Through hard work, sleepless nights and a little bit of luck, I made slow work of…well…getting sh*t done. And each time I ticked something off the ‘To Do List’ that is my life, it has been replaced by something else. Sometimes something in the same vein – bigger and better than before – and sometimes something completely unrelated.
This week, I reached a goal I’ve been working towards for the past eight months and while I spent hours upon hours daydreaming about it, once I got it, the first thought that crossed my mind was: “So…What now? What’s next?” And I can’t help but wonder… Is this how life is always going to be? A mad dash to attain something or other, and once you finally get your hands on it, another dash to attain something else?
I have never been (and will never be) one for complacency or settling for ‘good enough’, but I think sometimes we should stop. Stop, look back at how far we’ve come and give ourselves kudos. Not complacency, no. Not coming to a complete standstill either. But on the endless road of “what now?” and “what next?”, a little satisfaction goes a long way…
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