This is a reflection about getting older. But not the way you'd think.  I'm not going to say,  “It goes by so fast;” “Enjoy it while you're young;” “You have no idea how lucky you are.”  I'm not going to give you trite expressions or unload my regrets. I'm just going to share my experience of what my life is like now 10 years after graduating high school.  

 

When you're in high school, you get asked all the time, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” “What are you doing after high school?” “What are your career goals?” I'm at the point where I have achieved those goals. I graduated high school, I went to college, and am now in the career I chose. I even believe I am in my vocation, not just my job, but a work I can dedicate my life to. I am not staying this should be an expectation for everyone. This is just the life I've lived.  Not everyone gets to a career linearly. Some people don't reach a true vocation ever. 

 

I've also fulfilled a dream family life. I met someone I love, we dated, got married, and now have an 8 month old baby together.  It's wonderful and I consider myself very blessed. 

 

So now what? My life has fulfilled the plot line of about 99% of all movies and books. Stories are written about the young–coming of age stories, love stories. Stories about high school and middle school. Stories about transitioning from youth to adulthood.  I'm in my 20s, but literature might lead me to believe that I've arrived and my story is over.  But I still have so much more life to live! 

 

So what is my life like now? It's like I'm watching myself become an NPC. That's a non-playable character for non-gamers like me.  It's a side character, someone who assists the main character. I feel that this very accurately describes me.  I'm a teacher, so I get to teach my students each day. I help my coworkers.  I come home and serve my husband and son. On the weekends I help out at my church and hang out with my extended family.  Basically, I've built my life, and now I help other people build theirs. And I love my life. 

 

I think a danger in our American consumerist culture is selfishness.  We want things done for us, our way. We are the main character in our own lives, and the world revolves around us. But that's just an immature way of thinking. Kids think the world revolves around them.  Grown ups put others first.  I think a lot of adults resent this. They resent the responsibility. They wonder, “When is it my turn? When do I get a break?” And believe me, I definitely am not advocating for a burnt out, workaholic life.  As adults, we need to balance our responsibilities with rest and recreation. I don't always have to be ignored or in last place just because I'm an NPC. But it's also okay to recognize that the world doesn't evolve around you. It's okay to realize your role is to serve, and not always to be served.  It's more important to love others than to be loved.  If you give, I believe the world gives back to you, but even if it doesn't, it's still worth it to give just for the sake of giving.  

 

So that's it. That's been my experience of getting older.  I'm not sure when my next main character moment will come, but for now I'm happy being a supporting character. My story isn't one that would spark an interesting novel. But I love my family, and they love me, and that's enough.