I was visiting my best friend last night and, as so many times before, we got to talking about future plans and potential dream jobs etc. As someone who’s just finished a year at university to complete a Bachelor’s Degree, I guess you could say that I’m a little anxious when it comes to the «getting a job» part of my future… While my friend had no problem understanding how I felt about the lack of potential jobs at the moment, he also challenged me to think about it differently… Why not just enjoy the summer and leave the stress behind, since it does little to solve your situation and a lot to potentially ruin it? Maybe you’ll look back to the summer of 2015 and realize that it was the best summer of your life because you had complete freedom!  It made me think about how I live my life and how I would like to live it! Do I spend too much time planning the future or thinking about everyone else and what their opinion might be?

It seems to me that, in order to be considered successful in life, we have to work long hours every day and be engaged in several activities in our spare time. We need to renovate our houses every other year to stay updated with the latest trends and it appears that, while we have everything we want, we’re missing out on what really matters in life… Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the trendy renovations or updating with the newest gadgets that the market supply! And I’m no better than the next guy, when it comes to being part of social media or wanting new things… I’m just thinking that somewhere along the way, we lost touch with the ability to enjoy the small things and live in the moment!

When I look back at a certain day or week, I realize that the moments I cherish the most are the moments that enhance my life quality. Wether it be a friendly conversation on the verandah while having coffee or going for a walk by myself listening to music, those moments matter! And why not make the most of it while I have the chance… I know I’ll get that job sometime soon and I’ll be busy as you wouldn’t believe, while doing exactly as my friend predicted: thinking back to the summer of 2015 when I had complete freedom and could do exactly as I wanted!

Are you ready to stop and seize the moment?

It’s official!! I’m no longer a student….. In a period of 4 weeks I’ve had 4 exams, the last one a couple of days ago. Since I started studying in August 2014, I’ve done several assignments that includes writing this blog and making a website for a close friend! But more than that, I’ve also been able to fulfill my goal of finishing a bachelors degree – although it took 20 years (better late than never, right?)!

Going back to university as an adult has been a very interesting experience and I’d do it all over again if I had the chance! There is something so rewarding about being in an academic environment and making a change to the better for myself. No doubt I’ve been lazy and I could’ve made better grades had I studied harder. But at the same time, it’s not just about the grades. It’s about the personal journey I’ve been on for the last 3-4 years, culminating with these exams and that bachelors degree. Those are the proof that it can be done, even when you feel so low that it seems impossible to ever get back up…

So, where does that leave me? To be honest, I have no idea… Wether I’ll get a job in Kristiansand where I live or if I’ll have to move, only time will tell. But I know for sure that I’m better equipped for the future! Not just because I’ve been able to finish a degree (if I pass all exams) and will be more eligible for those jobs, but I’ve been able to pick myself up off the ground and change the course of my life! I’ve been able to recognize the need to make that change and then I’ve done something about it! That’s what life is about, making the necessary changes so the life we live can be a fulfilling one!

 

«As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.» Ben Hogan

 

 

Appreciate the little things in life, they make life worth living!