Life is Less of a Checklist and More of a 'Surprise, Surprise!'

What a thought-provoking prompt we've been given for this week. Cheers to the diligent moderators of this beautiful community. 🥂

It's made me think back to when I was younger, I firmly believed that life would neatly fall into place if you just followed the "rules." You know the script; go to school, get good grades, graduate, get a job, marry your soulmate, and live happily ever after. I actually genuinely believed that's how it was meant to be. It was the kind of belief system that felt sturdy and reassuring.
https://img.inleo.io/DQmVZX4Kspi4MgiaSuHTGdgNEtJPw6NQMGxZZxjTrwiVh45/w.webp
Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh. Not a gentle chuckle though, no, the kind of laughter where you almost suffocate because the irony is "ironying". Scripted life manual? More like a fairy tale wrapped in adulting propaganda. Life itself has changed my mind and approach towards half the things I used to believe in. Now, let me mention a few that stands out the most.

The “School is the Key” Delusion

First off, “education” is just one of many tools, it’s not the ultimate golden ticket. Sure, going to school is a privilege and comes with its perks. For instance, you get to meet different people, learn how to navigate relationships, make friends, lose friends, fall in love—the whole nine yards. However, I used to believe that being educated guaranteed success and wealth. In reality, education mainly gives you an edge in how you approach things and shape your thought process. Even so, some educated people still act ignorantly, proving that education is more like acquiring a skill. In the grand scheme of things; connections, timing, and a generous dose of luck often outweigh straight A’s.

Love is a Fairytale? Nah, It’s a Comedy

Let’s talk about the idea of finding “The One.” I used to believe in the whole soulmate concept; you meet someone, and the stars align, and life suddenly becomes a rom-com Kdrama. Boy, was I wrong.

In reality, love is less about "soulmates" and more about "two imperfect people trying to make it work without driving each other crazy." I had to let go of the notion that love alone is enough because, honestly, it’s not. A successful relationship takes so much more than just love. For instance, you could love someone deeply but still be entirely incompatible with their behavioral patterns.

And while people love to say, "You sacrifice for the one you love," the real question is, how much are you willing to sacrifice before it becomes too much? Over-sacrificing for someone—a person who, let’s face it, is just as flawed as you and bound to make mistakes—can leave you feeling emotionally drained, and possibly even resentful (maybe hate is too strong a word, but you get the idea). Relationships don’t thrive on some magical connection; they demand effort, patience, and a sense of humor for all the weird quirks that come with loving someone.

Money Doesn’t Solve Everything (But It Solves A Lot)

Ah, the classic, “Money can't buy happiness” line. I used to believe that, too. People always said things like, “Money isn't everything.” Cute, right? Well, let me tell you something, poverty can neither buy happiness nor ANYTHING as a matter of fact.

It’s not that I believe money guarantees happiness, but let’s be real, it definitely makes life a whole lot easier. Being able to afford the basics provides a level of peace that no amount of motivational quotes can replace. Honestly, happiness isn’t tied to any single factor—not family, not friends, not money, and certainly not being broke. That said, not having to stress about financial responsibilities is a huge relief. Being able to live in the moment and focus on what truly matters without the weight of money worries? That’s one major happiness-draining factor crossed off the list.

Life Is Not a Checklist

This one actually hit the hardest because I used to believe that life was a series of milestones to be checked off. Graduate by 22. Get married by 25. Have kids by 28. But here’s the thing: life doesn’t care about your timeline. I’ve seen people find their dream careers at 40, fall in love at 50, or discover their true passion at 60. Sometimes I do have this thought, "Why are we here if all we're gonna do till death is shuffle and re-shuffle, no lasting happiness or peace or even sorrow. Just, keep going through a life you have no manual for". lol. But I guess that's what makes it worth living. Because time as one of the deciding factors is not equal for everyone.

In Summary

I’d say life taught me that beliefs are not concrete. They’re more like temporary placeholders that make sense at the time, but as you grow, they evolve. And I know some of my believes even at this present age, will evolve as well.

But for now, I've stopped believing in the “rules” because life doesn’t follow them. I've stopped thinking everything would go according to plan because you're making plans but the plans doesn't know that you're making it. At the moment, I believe in flexibility. I believe in showing up, even when things don’t go as planned. I believe in celebrating the little wins and not beating yourself up for the setbacks. Most importantly, I believe in learning, not the kind you get from textbooks, but the kind that comes from living through your mistakes and figuring it out as you go. I also believe in seizing opportunities.

A moment of complete honesty? I’m still figuring it out. Some days, I feel like I’ve got a grip on this whole adulting thing. Other days, I’m just trying to remember how many units is left on my prepaid meter for electricity. But that’s life, isn’t it? A messy, unpredictable, beautiful journey.

All images in this article are mine.
Thank you for reading! :)

Posted Using INLEO