I moved out the house as soon as I finished high school.
It was considered a weird thing to do in the city I grew up in. The custom was that you finish school, study at the local university or technicon, get a degree you probably won’t use, then either get a job or work in the family business. So you can imagine all the questions I had to answer when I left – especially from my friends, who still all live in my hometown. Don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing wrong with living in your hometown, but it’s a problem when you don’t see progress out of your high school phase.
I recently visited my hometown and had a catch-up with all my old friends. I was surprised at how much everyone had changed. I was expecting these crazy, wild friends who still drank until the sun came up – but instead they all seemed so responsible; it was weird.
I hadn’t seen them in forever, so I did not follow their journey of progress, but I was very happy. It was like they had grown up overnight. They were talking about work, their responsibilities, and how they are saving and trying to buy houses and cars. It almost made me feel like I needed to up my game.
Don’t get me wrong – never have I ever thought I was better than them or anyone from my hometown, but I must admit it kind of motivated me a little. It made me think that if my friends can change that drastically, then anyone can. It was amazing to see them, and I definitely left feeling a little bit more motivated.
It made me think that often the quick fix joys in life are not what we need to progress. It’s about time we get real for a bit and understand it’s time to grow up. Life will not wait for you – so get real and start looking ahead.
Be real with yourself!
God Speed.