Different ≠ Bad
Different ≠ Bad
If you were to meet 22 year old me….you’d probably have to explain to her the difference between a latte and cappuccino! But more than that, if you sat down with Amanda of 25 years ago and asked her what 47 year old Amanda’s life would look like – she would have had a very clear picture and it would have looked like this:
I would be married (to my 1st husband)
I would have 2 kids
I would have a job but not a career – I would have taken time off when my babies were little to be home and to be able to focus on them.
My core group of friends would be my friends from high school and we’d still do a lot of things together.
I would have traveled.
I’d live in a single-family house with a decent sized back yard and I’d have a dog and 2 cats
Basically? I’d be living the American Dream.
Now, of those 6 things – 2 are true. My core group of friends are my friends from high school and I have traveled.
The reality of my current life?
I have been divorced: twice.
I have no children.
I have a career and have been the primary breadwinner my entire adult life.
Friends – exactly as anticipated.
I have traveled – differently than anticipated but that one came true.
I live in a townhouse that I bought with my 1st husband and I have 2 cats so; we can split the difference on that one.
22-year-old me could never have imagined that I would quit my job and go work at the Sundance Film Festival. 22-year-old me could never have imagined that I would have the privilege of taking 12 teens to Germany for a month on a YMCA youth exchange. 22-year-old me would have told you were a liar if you told her that 45 year old her would be a part of a leadership team at Unitarian congregation. I could go on and on.
Frankly, 22-year-old me could never have imagined the incredibly joyful and rich tapestry that my life has been thus far and continues to be. My life is drastically different than what I imagined it would be but what I have been reminded of time and time again is the simple truth that different isn’t bad. It’s just different.
How has different shown up in your life and become an unexpected joy?
