“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ― Ernest Hemingway
Every time someone hears that Jake is graduating in 2 years, which is absolutely amazing (go Jake), the first thing they say after WOW is "what's he doing next?" the assumption of course is that there is a NEXT. and there is, for all of us, but it's interesting that any accomplishment is almost always followed by the pressure of the NEXT ONE. how is the hell is Jake supposed to keep topping his own really cool accomplishments? and why do we need to pressure him to do so? the answer is, he doesn't and we shouldn't. so please, everyone, lets just give him a second to ponder the "next" part. pretty please!!
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” ― Heraclitus
Probably the hardest thing for Jake right now is that he's coming home. It doesn't matter that he kicked clemson's ass and is saving himself (and us) and butt-ton of money by finishing early. He sees coming home as a step backward (even if he wont admit it to my face). Our kids leave for college thinking when they graduate, they will be grown up. able to make it alone in the cold hard world. independent. and that it happens magically once they receive that well-deserved diploma. PSYCHE. you can see it on his face every time someone says, so what now? the grimace before he catches it and says "well, i'll be home for a while". Like we are all expecting my 20 year old to have an awesome job and his life all figured out by now. Not that he doesn't have a plan. you don't get to be Jake Bayer without having a PLAN. in all caps. but it's going to take some time for it to flesh out. and that's OK. even if he doesn't quite believe it right now. Jake is not the same young man that left this house 2 years ago (almost exactly). He has lived on his own, fed himself, grocery shopped, cleaned, done laundry, worked a job AND managed to finish college ahead of schedule. He has travelled abroad and navigated the real life issues of losing bank cards, getting his scooter stolen (yes, scooter) and filing a police report, and survived a florida spring break - without getting arrested. He is not the naive 18 year old that left. and yet, he is still that same young man with hopes and dreams for his future - he is just one step closer to realizing them. even if it doesn't feel like it right now.
“Sometimes it's worth lingering on the journey for a while before getting to the destination.” ― Richelle Mead
sometimes life is long. and sometimes it's short. depends on where you are standing at the time. i know for jake the last 2 years have flown by, and the next 6 months will probably drag. it all just depends on how you look at it. what jake accomplishes in this next chapter will be no less important or significant than what he has already done. but it will FEEL different. because as with each step in our lives, we set our bar higher. it's a difficult road when you are always trying to do more than you've done in the past. somehow the status quo became a bad thing. and that is exhausting. and daunting. i hope this next little space of time is one in which Jake can just take a deep breath - slow down for a just a quick minute - and appreciate all he has done to get to this place. he gets to relax for just a bit. watch his little brother start high school. visit his other brother at tech. see some killer college football games at both schools. and coach with his dad. all very very laid back but awesome things. this is the year of breathing, being thankful, and gearing up. the next step will be just as challenging as the last. don't you worry about that. there is no way Jake is done yet. but the story that is his life is just beginning. the first 20 are for learning. you guys all know what i'm talking about. now, the next 20 - that's where the magic happens! it's probably a good thing that he gets to spend a little bit of time now planning - enjoying the scenery. because i don't see much down time in his future.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
