During a rather beautiful walk last night through the sloshy Somerset countryside I posed the following question to my cousin’s daughter – “what has been the most useful advice that you have been given that is guiding you right now”?
Cousin Connie is wise, thoughtful, bright and fun. She has recently completed her degree from the very best of universities. The world should have been her oyster but ‘lock down’ has changed the ‘anticipated’ course of her career – as it will have done for so many. Her answer to me is one that I am sharing because I think that there is so much value in it – and, I hope, reassurance.
“My father always used to tell me that life does not have to be ‘linear’ … that life does not need to reflect a perfect step by step path along a set direction. He has always stressed to me that I do not need take on the idea that the only way through life is linear, going from school to university to the perfect job and into a long term career.
His words never made sense to me back then and I did not really pay attention to them … until now. I am a graduate and I am needing to adjust what this next stage looks like. I was scared and stressed by this idea at first but now that I have accepted that my career course will be taking great twists and turns, I have more peace and less anxiety.
I now see that all that I am currently up to is also relevant, even though is is not what I am up to is not ‘career’ orientated. I am doing what I can do though including various part time jobs and helping out at home. I have not been based at home for years – it really special and I am gaining all sorts of interesting experiences along the way”.
I finished that lovely walk understanding that her take on these current times for young people is so very wise. Keep pushing on, keep trying out different avenues, keep progressing …. but, be calm about this path looking so different to what you had hoped for or anticipated.
My hope is that you will be amazed at opportunities that will open up for you at some point soon …