Dear Meg,
In a week, you’ll be embarking on a new year of college. As always, when a new chapter begins, you like to mentally prepare yourself by setting a few goals and expectations, so I’m going to help you do that by outlining a few things in this letter.
First, try to always have a purpose. The novel you’re currently trying to finish, Atlas Shrugged, mentions on several occasions that the foremost form of depravity is a man without a purpose, and although you’re certainly not a man, you’re not too fond of using the male form of anything as the default, and you don’t blindly agree with everything in that book, having a purpose is a good principle to follow. It’s okay if your purpose of the moment is to relax after a long week. Just don’t idle your time or your life away.
Remember that the main purpose of college is to acquire an education, so do that. Actively learn. Surround yourself with people you can learn from. Obtain the grades and pursue the career experience you know you’re capable of without having to sacrifice everything else. Separate those causes that are worthwhile (like your education, your happiness, your relationships with those whom you care about, and your future) from those that aren’t and those that can wait for later (oh wait, is this encouraging procrastination?), and give your all to those worthwhile causes. Wherever you are, whatever you do, be there and do it. Don’t stretch yourself too thin, but do everything that you’re capable of and don’t give in to mediocrity.
Work out at least a few times a week, because you know you can find time if you stop wasting it. Sign up for those free yoga classes and get use out of them, because free stuff is awesome and you shouldn’t need the fact that you spent money on something to take full advantage of it. Once you start working out regularly again, it’ll become a habit. It’ll become something consistent that you look forward to, and you can stop wistfully thinking about those days when you ran and played school sports and were in shape and awesome. You’re still awesome.
Because you’re awesome, you need to remember that you come first. Stop worrying about being selfish, because c’mon, everyone is selfish. That’s not to say that you should hurt anyone else, of course, because you’re not better than other people and you should never become any of those entitled or self-absorbed people who invite dislike. It just means that you should work toward earning what you deserve, give yourself credit when you deserve it, and love and take care of yourself, because you can’t expect anyone else to do that for you. You can be there for others without sacrificing yourself.
If something seems like the end of the world, it isn’t. You’ll get over it. Failing at something small might be one of those things that seem like the end of the world, but it’s okay to be human and fail. Even though in the back of your mind you’ll keep to the belief that your idea of perfection is attainable, remember that excellence despite imperfection is much better than striving for perfection and falling way short.
To take another idea from Atlas Shrugged: Dagny Taggart wakes up feeling the excitement of a new day ahead of her. Of her life. Every morning is the beginning to a new day of your life to do with it what you will. Ginormous accomplishments don’t occur in a day, but small achievements and steps toward those ginormous accomplishments do.
Parts of your life are left up to chance, but most of it is up to you. Know what you want and go after it. Stop peppering your speech with “I think”s and “I don’t know”s. Make decisions. Be gutsy. Look for inspiration. Take worthwhile risks. Truly communicate with others. Work out what you believe in, even if you only build pieces of the structure that will become your belief system, and stick to it. Be yourself. Be true. Be happy.
Love,
Meg
