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The Game of Life

In accordance with the 8+ age recommendation plastered on the side of the Game of Life box, we've been exposed to the "blueprint" ("Life Stories") of life since we were mere children. Our stages of life have been set out for us, with timestamps at the approximate ages of 5, 18, 22, 30, and 60.*

It's so standard--this kind of thinking. And there's a reason for it. Obviously, these stages of life are traditional for most people, but they're also so tightly grasped onto because of the stability they provide for holders of this idea. It provides a clearer vision and comfort from the frightening mystery of the future. 

Yet as we linger in each stage, we continuously look to what comes next. Personally, I've always admired those older than me and glorified their experiences. In comparison to their grand stories, my life always felt slightly less interesting-- always one step behind. And being exposed to what would soon be coming, I only had my thoughts set on the future. 

While being in college was once my only aspiration **, now I aspire to savor the present. Cheesy, right.*** But in all seriousness, we've been accustomed to suffer now and be happy in the future. Unfortunately, it'll only get worse in the future: looking forward to yet another stage of life and probably even backward to what we once had. And just to touch onto another flaw in this thinking, your expectation based on the blueprint will undoubtedly be failed sometime in your life.

So savor the moment. 

It's cliché, but it's common for a reason. Now that it's our last year of high school, try not to get too caught up with what's right around the corner. And now that I've adapted this new type of thinking, I cannot contain my excitement for what I am now: a senior!****



*These numbers correlate to the obvious events of starting grade school, becoming an adult and going to college, graduating to find a real job, getting married and starting a family, and, finally, having grandchildren and retiring.

**More specifically, a romanticized future that I foolishly could not contain my excitement for

***I hope you got the joke

****Yes, all my friends have already gotten annoyed at me for pointing this out dozens of times

Comments

  1. Abby LiangSeptember 18, 2020 at 1:43 PM

    Hahah Sabrina I love your footnotes!! But wow this hit hard - I think especially with quarantine, I've been trying to live more in the present. Can't believe we're seniors, wow 🙈

    ReplyDelete
  2. KatieSeptember 21, 2020 at 8:28 AM

    This was so eloquently written and I really get what you're saying! I think lately I've been feeling a bit differently because I've been caught in this thought cycle of missing the past. I'll keep your writing in mind :)

    ReplyDelete

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