‘Where will you be in 5 years?’
We’ve all been asked this question in an interview at some point and I don’t know about you, but when I get asked, an automatic pit of anxiety builds up inside of me.
It’s a question we all wonder, whether asked by an interviewer, friend, or by ourselves.
At the end of the day, the answer is nothing more than an educated guess. How could we possibly know exactly what our life will look like in 5 years?
5 years ago I had graduated from college the year previously and was still working at a bar. I was making great money and had recently been on job interviews for Shoeless Joes (Marketing Manager) and Sunwing (Flight attendant). I was planning my first ever trip to Ireland (which at that time, I thought would be my last) and was dating someone who was not my husband.
5 years later, I no longer work at the bar, I’ve travelled to Ireland 4 or 5 times, I’m married, and have two dogs. I also enjoy writing, which I never used to do as a hobby (besides the occasional journal entry).
I’m sure back then I thought I would have had a well-established career by now, and maybe even had a baby.
The thing is, things change! We change, our ideas change, our goals change and time passes by.
We need to stop comparing ourselves to others, I guarantee everyone at one point or another questioned themselves and where they stood in this journey we call life.
The truth is; it’s important to have an idea of where you would like to be in life, in what direction you want to head. It’s important to have goals, dreams and ambitions, but it’s also important to realize those things are never carved in stone. The ‘5 year plan’ can create narrow expectations and cause guilt, anxiety and heartache if they aren’t met.
Who cares if you aren't married by 25, isn't it better to wait and be sure then to rush and regret it?! So what, you haven't landed your dream job just yet, amazing things in life take time and are worth waiting for! So you've made a couple mistakes in the past? Who hasn't?! The important thing is that you've learned from them.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not an excuse to become lazy and not have goals and ambitions. It’s just a reminder that our goals don’t have to be so specific. That way, you don’t end up disappointed. If you aren’t where you ‘saw’ yourself 5 years ago, it hardly means you are a failure. It means you are human. You’ve experienced growth, change, and new ideas. You have realized life gets in the way sometimes, and it’s just as important to plan for today as it is to plan for tomorrow.
My '5 year plan' is to remain as happy in my marriage as I am now, build upon our family, and create memories and moments that last a lifetime while building a career that grows with my family.
So cheers, to where you are in life at this very moment, because this is exactly where you are supposed to be. You are unique, and so is your life and life's experiences.
