When I was a kid, I remember plotting out my future: to be an architect, married by 22, kids by 24. Well, the architect thing got scratched out by high school when a teacher told me I had to be really good at math. Marriage at 22 seemed like a reasonable goal when I was 8 and all I had to compare to was my mom who was 21 when she got married. However, once I actually hit 22 I realized I was way too young to understand and appreciate the commitment that a marriage embodies. Nearly 5 years past my "goal," I finally got married. The kids by 24 part was out the window around the same time. Maybe I'll be 5 years behind on that goal too.
My childhood self couldn't have fathomed I'd go to the University of Missouri to get my journalism degree, move to Joplin, Mo. and then Des Moines, Iowa where I'd find the love of my life, change careers, and settle down. But you know what? I'm glad my childhood plot was foiled. I couldn't be happier than where I'm at today.