Highway to Happy

I have long been trying to stretch my hectic schedule to squeeze in creating my vision board somewhere. Fortunately, the past weekend happened to be work-free and date-free. I was feeling all excited, with much creative juices running through my veins. Everything was set. Or so I thought. Until I realized there’s no way I can create a vision board without a clear vision.


The past couple of years were a roller coaster ride. Thesis, finals, review, board exams, first job. But now that ride is over. I can look back at the giant track with all its terrifying whoops and say I survived it. That, after all, it was just a part of some amusement ride; it was a part of life.

So now that my life is back to its normal phase, I can and should start to make decisions that would set my path clear and straight. Thus, the need for a vision board, or even just a “vision”, at that.


At this point, I can say I have let go of the dream of entering the sacred gates of law school. After giving much thought to it, being a lawyer doesn’t really fit anywhere in my future. I am not that driven, career-wise. And although I meant it with all sincerity when I said I wanted to become a Partner in the firm, I am now seriously doubting I would pursue that.


So what do I really want?


Given the best-case scenario, I would want my own business, be responsible for my own time and give the best part of my day to my family. Contrary to the usual I-want-to-come-home-to-a-wonderful-family target, I want a wonderful family to come home to me. I believe that’s the biggest challenge.


I am now 21. By the end of the year, I will be 22. I have a little over 5 years to save enough money, invest it somewhere profitable but not too risky and promote my earning-capacity to a level decent-enough to produce a capital. How do I do all that?


My dad said I am being too edgy about the future. Perhaps, he’s right. I am only young once and should make the most out of it. But I want to take pleasure in being young by taking risks, investing in myself, growing up and, of course, engaging in random getaways and shopping sprees once in a while.


The weekend is over and I have no vision board to hang in my bedroom. But that’s okay. I am now starting to mull over options, searching for the best alternatives that fit perfectly in my future’s blueprint. In a month’s time, I guess I’ll be ready. With a definite vision and overflowing will, I'll create a board that means so much more than random pictures and half-hearted whims. It will be a picture of my future, of realizable dreams and places I wish to visit. It will be a collage of everything that will take me to my happiest; not just mediocre-level happy but big time happy. Nothing less than that.