#3: decide what you want

This is my favorite scene from the infamous movie “The Notebook.”

Yes, I could have gone with the one where the have seemingly uninterrupted sex for a whole day or the “if you’re a bird, I’m a bird” scene or my second favorite part in the middle of the movie where it climaxes at the pinnacle of their love, but I did not. You see the reason this is my favorite part…well…let’s be honest…there are multiple reasons: the honesty, the raw emotion, the deep love, the fight for what you want…just to name a few. I love it because I think Noah’s monologue about what their (present and) future relationship looks like is so legitimate. Seems to me he’s got it pegged.

“So it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be really hard and we’re going to have to work on this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, everyday…”

But the real reason I’m sharing this with you tonight is not to talk about relationships because the next part of what he says is just as valid. Next he asks Aly what she sees when she looks into her future…and he asks her, point blank…

“What do you want?”

Only four words, but do not be mistaken..these four small words pack a big punch. They tell which path you choose. They reveal what you deem most important. They give away your true character. And they tell you who you are.

So…my question to you is…what do you want?

There is no other time better than now, dear twenty-something-year-old, to decide what you want and to take steps towards these things.

[And if your answer is you just want Ryan Gosling? Well…I completely accept that as a valid answer and will envy you if you make that happen, but for the other 99,999,999,999,999,999.99 %  of us out there…we must truly consider this with our hearts.]

What do you want to be your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? What will others say of you when your gone? What is your character? Do you have a spiritual life? Is it important? Do you want a big family? Do you want no family? Do you want to travel the world? Do you want to work a 9-5er? Do you want to change the world? If yes, how are you going to do it? What will you be good at? What is important to you most? What are your non-negotiables in a spouse? What are you non-negotiables in life?

You may think some of these questions seem silly for a twenty-something-year-old because seriously…you are such a long ways from needing to be “remembered” you’re going to be around for a long time. You could probably take care of that later.

Which is true…you could, but why would you? Why wait for another 15 years to start living the life you want and being the person you want to be? Why be angry when you can love? Why be bored when you can be excited? Why hate you’re job when you can love it? Why hate life when the world is your playground?

I’m “just sayin'” a time will come when you will be questioned, the clock will strike, the wave will crash, and you will have a decision to make. Who will you be? If you don’t know…someone will tell you and you will be carried off on the waves of their ocean instead of yours. You will then be playing be someone else’s rules and standards…not yours.

But if you know who you are now…the answers come easier later.

To be a better twenty-something-year-old…(#3) decide what you want.

And start walking that path.

For more on the 31 day challenge check it out here and join in!