Hey there,
While I haven’t seen The Life List, I get the idea, a young woman suddenly able to achieve everything she’s ever dreamed of since she was a teenager, all in the space of a few weeks. I can definitely see why the question of “should I quit my job and travel” would replay in your mind over and over. It taps into something we all feel as we get older: the pressure to have achieved a lifetime’s worth of goals by the time we hit 30. (Which, when you think about it, is a little ridiculous considering how many decades of adulthood we still have ahead of us, but somehow that number looms large anyway.)
Movies like this tend to stir up that ticking clock we all hear in the background, reminding us of everything we haven’t achieved yet. But often, I think the pressure doesn’t even come from our own true goals. While it would be amazing to do everything, it’s not possible in one lifetime, and honestly, most of it isn’t even what we really want deep down.
In a world where social media shows us a constant highlight reel of what everyone else is doing, it’s easy to get pulled into comparison, to wonder if we should have taken a different path. As 30 approaches, it can feel like we need to have it all figured out before it’s “too late.” But comparison is dangerous; it steals our ability to appreciate what’s already good and beautiful in our lives. One of my favourite reminders is: In your own life, you can never be early, and you can never be late. You’re always right on time.
It’s hard to hold onto that when everyone around you is on different timelines, chasing different dreams. But I want to challenge you to take a step back. Ask yourself: What do I really care about? If you imagined your ideal life, what are the things that matter most? Maybe even create a vision board or journal about it. When you get clear on what’s true for you, not what you see online, not what others expect, you can start setting goals that actually align with your real dreams.
And most importantly, slow down. There’s so much time ahead, and no decision is final. You have the power to change course whenever you want. Life isn’t a race it’s a journey, and it’s yours to shape.
Read more of Amber’s advice here.