This time last year I had graduated from college and had hit the infamous quarter-life crisis. I had finished a degree in Philosophy and I had no idea what to do with it, not to mention I had made my third move in a year and was just dealing with a lot of personal stuff.
What should I do with all this confusion?
I booked a ticket and went to see my lovely cousin, Rosey, in San Francisco.
The trip was awesome, but also difficult. I was in a beautiful city, but I also had so many things to work through on my own. In this time Rosey was my life savior. She told me not to sulk and to go out into the city and explore. When I was done with San Francisco she told me to go to LA and maybe rent a car and tour the west coast and visit some old friends. At the time it seemed like a big investment to pay for a time of grief, and honestly it was, I will never deny that my travels have been a HUGE privilege in my life, with that in mind it was also the best investment.
At one point I was supposed to go to LA and I took the BART train to Oakland… my flight was out of LAX. Stupid stupid mistake. When I realized what I had done I jumped on the subway and tried to make it to my flight. Unfortunately the subway had broken down and I missed it and had nabbed one of two tickets left on the next flight. I ended up sitting next to a Theater professor whose name I do not know. We started talking and I began to share some of the grief on my heart and how I was unsure of what to do with my life. At the time I was offered a Master’s of Divinity placement at Emory (which I ended up taking), but I was wondering if I should do business school instead. I think the woman knew that the fear of failure and lonesomeness hung over my head.
She said to me:
Your problem is that your always looking for yourself in other people. You can’t do that. There is no one else in this world like you, and that is the same for everyone. We are all unique and its that uniqueness that colors the world. You have to stay true to your colors and you have to know that God is good. He desires good for you and will articulate good things in your life. Wherever you go, North, South, East or West, that goodness will not leave you. So just go and see what happens.
Those words have not left me, and maybe they may mean something to you too. I ended up going to LA and staying with a friend, Tori, who made LA a BLAST for me. I then visited San Diego where I surfed for the first time! I ended my trip in San Francisco with my wonderful cousin, who listened to all my stories with understanding and a “I told you so” glimmer behind her eyes (though she never once spoke it). I ended up going to Emory (and I am still there now) and am continuing my journey. To where? I still don’t know… but the goodness has not left me.
Pictures from the trip below:
