When one door closes, another opens.

But often we look so long at the closed door…

That we do not see the one which has been opened for us. 

-Hellen Keller-

Life is never just a smooth ride from start to finish. Sometimes our plans just don't pan out the way we thought they would; we encounter unforeseen obstacles, uncontrollable circumstances, and long delays. When you’re in the moment, it can feel like the end of the world when plans fall apart. That’s even more true regarding what the whole world has been through these past couple of years, I don’t think there’s anyone whose plans haven’t been affected in some way by the pandemic. 

I’ve had my fair share of things not working out. I spent a lot of time feeling bitter and frustrated, wallowing in self pity lamenting the things I could not control. But now when I look back, I’m glad that things happened the way that they did, because all of these experiences shaped me into the person I am today. Unexpected change can lead to better things. I learned so many new things, met so many people,and discovered things about myself I never would have otherwise.

I think as we get older and experience more things, the most valuable asset we acquire is perspective. I remember back in school where a low result on an exam felt like it would negatively affect my life forever, or getting my heart broken will mean I’ll never love again, or that when I felt down, happiness felt forever out of reach. Looking back, I see how silly it all was, small mistakes led me to catastrophize insignificant issues, creating an atmosphere where everything felt hopeless. 

I stared at that closed door for a long time, but I think it's time to let myself off the hook and start moving forward again. Try every new door until the one that is right for me, finally opens.