I think one of the hardest parts of growing up is realizing that some of the dreams you're chasing aren't even yours.

For so long, I thought I knew what success was supposed to look like.

Get good grades.

Build a good career.

Make money.

Become someone people can be proud of.

Simple, right?

But somewhere along the way, I started wondering:

Do I actually want all of this, or have I just been taught that I should?

Sometimes we inherit dreams without realizing it.

From our parents.

From society.

From the people we admire.

From watching other people succeed and deciding that their version of success must be ours too.

And there's nothing wrong with wanting a good life.

But I've started realizing that a good life isn't necessarily the same thing as a life that looks good.

Maybe success for me won't look exactly like someone else's.

Maybe my definition of happiness will change.

Maybe some of the things I desperately want right now won't matter to me five years from now.

And honestly?

That used to scare me.

Because changing your mind can feel like admitting you were wrong.

Perhaps it means you're learning more about yourself.

I'm learning that I don't have to rush to become the person everyone expects me to be.

I can ask questions.

I can explore.

I can try things.

I can fail.

I can change direction.

I can discover that something I once wanted isn't for me anymore.

And I think that's one of the most beautiful, and uncomfortable parts of growing up.

You don't just discover who you are.

Sometimes, you have to unlearn who you thought you were supposed to be.

So I'm asking myself a different question now.

Not:

"Who should I become?"

But:

"Who do I genuinely want to become?"

I don't have the complete answer yet.

Maybe I don't need to.

I'm still writing the answer.

One decision.

One mistake.

One dream.

One chapter at a time.

And maybe that's what finding my feet really means.

Not following a path someone else drew for me...

but slowly learning how to choose my own.

Aven 🌿

See you in the next chapter.