Run around, scrape your knees, get dirty...Get into trouble, for cryingout loud.

There are times in your life for certain things. For instance, when you're one, it's time for sticking your hands in a cake. When you're nine years old, it's time to go play outside and get dirty. Get into trouble. Build a fort. Play. When you're in middle school, it's time to have a crush; dance 2 feet from each other. Have fun. High school is when you are pressured to start figuring it all out. Say you live to be 100. What makes people think that at age 17, you will know what you want to do for the rest of your life? Ride in a car with a friend who has terrible driving skills. Make out with someone.

I hit it hard at 25. REALLY hard. I had what some might consider to be a quarter-life crisis. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?!? Why am I not married or even on the road to that path? My parents were married and had both my brother and I by that age. NOTE: my parents are divorced and so are many of yours who did the same thing. I didn't have some fantastic job or a college degree yet, and felt as though I had accomplished nothing. I am so glad I went through that when I did. Some don't hit the questioning phase until much later. Clarity is something wonderful. Clarity for me means having no idea.

There were a few times when I thought I was on the road to marriage. Hell, I've been on the road to a college degree now for 10 years. I'm not married and I'm so glad that I'm not. Do I want to get married one day and have kids? Fo' Sho! Do I know when it will happen? Nope. I sure am glad that I don't. I have nothing against anyone who is my age and married with kids. I'm terrified of getting divorced, and for personal reasons, I'm glad I am single. EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

My clarity recently came when I realized I want to be nine again. Okay, wait, that sounds weird. To better explain: I want to have fun. I think you can be responsible and make good, "grown-up" decisions, while having a blast at the same time. You live ONCE. (Unless you believe in reincarnation, I guess.)

I'm not going to judge anyone for what they believe but I am a Christian and I believe God made this awesome place in which we reside for us to fully enjoy it's beauty. Fall in love. Fall out of love. Fall in love again. Hang out with friends. Make new ones. GO OUTSIDE. GO EXPLORE. Take a trip. Catch a plane. Travel to another space, place or destination. I want to go EVERYWHERE. I want to see it all. Maybe that is why I like hiking and doing stuff like that. You get to see the little details. Your eyes are the camera and your mind is the video recorder. Take images.

I feel sorry for those people who do not have this same clarity. There are people who sit at home and watch TV everyday. There are folks who sit in a cubicle all week and are so tired on the weekend, they stay home and do nothing. Some people struggle financially that they feel they need to stay in and avoid spending money. Outside is free, FYI. I feel so sad for these people. I want to take advantage of this life while I have it. When it is time for me to go, I'll feel confident that I led an awesome life. Bucket Lists are for people who live in fear. Do crazy things all the time. Be spontaneous. Make mistakes. Go to a park. "Go out and sit on the lawn and do nothing.  Cause it's just what you must do and nobody does it anymore."

*Above quote: Fiona Apple, "Waltz (Better Than Fine)"