I’m 24, and my marriage deadline is running towards me. Well, at least the idea I had as a kid. Now I am faced with the reality, I can’t put an age limit on my achievements, (not that marriage is an achievement really). I have an embarrassingly long list of deadlines, from owning an apartment to “quit being a waitress”. I recently had a long cry when I sat with my deadlines and realised that I’m nowhere close to achieving any of those goals writes Cape {town} Etc’s Jay-tee Davidson.
Let’s talk about age limits and the internal clock.
Having an internal clock set on goals and achievements isn’t all that bad, it activates ambition, drive and structure for the future. It’s the double-edged sword that drives us to be successful, or to feel like a complete failure. Often, it translates to the latter especially in this odd age group where some own apartments and others are couch surfing. Some are expecting baby no. 2 and others are recovering from a hangover every other day.
Success means different things to many people, but it’s important to note that we are all on our unique journeys. We don’t lead identical lives, our circumstances are all different. “Success” can be achieved at any age. Andrea Bocelli, the Italian Opera singer only achieved his success when he was 34. This came after hearing “no” for most of his life.
Can you imagine spending most of your life waiting on the next goal to be ticked off your list? Running from one deadline to the other that you forget to actually live? Possibly searching for instant gratification from ticking off a “to do list”. This subject has a lot to unpack, there are so many layers, this on top of being complex individuals.
Here is a secret, success lies in the present. We don’t live or exist in the past or future, and frankly, some of us might not even make it that far. We are here right now, reading this article, the birds are chirping, and the warm blankets wrapped around you feels like home. Acknowledging that makes you successful. The present moment gifts us with a multitude of opportunities to contribute to the future. Philosopher Iddo Landau suggests that all of us have everything we need for a meaningful existence.
Picture: Unsplash