#NerdsUnite: Ask That Nerdy Chick (I want one thing and my parents want another)
It is my goal for 2013 to take a lot of my weird and wonky experiences as a lifecaster and help nerdy peeps out by providing a frank (not shirley) and honest answer to some weird and potentially random questions you may have about life.
Here is an email I just got on Facebook ...
First of all, thanks for reading and thanks for reaching out.
Secondly, you think you can predict your life at this point? CHIILLLLLDDD, I'm 10 years your senior and I'm still terribly confused with what the heck I'm doing. Even WITH my own business and my own brand.
Your teen years are hard. Period end of sentence. Even though you are 18, legally an adult, and physically outside of your parent's household, you are still emotionally very intertwined.
Your parents will ALWAYS want what they THINK is best for their daughter, or their son - but who are you? That is the only thing in life you ever have to solve for. It's terribly difficult breaking free from that and becoming your own person, but remember, it is all a step by step process. (And a jug of water gets filled one drop at a time.) I completely lucked out with having parents that apparently knew from when I was just a few days old that "this one was different." (I have an older brother who was apparently quite the good baby. I, on the other hand, was a terror from the womb.) My parents embraced my weirdness and told me that with hard work and my mind set to something I could accomplish ANYTHING. (Mother and father, you were both very right.)
As far as ambition goes? I've had a series of trials and errors. My resume reads like the most random series of events and adventures one could possibly imagine. I've never been normal, and I've never done ANYTHING by the book. What I had to do was figure out my own way, not be afraid of being a leader, and WRITE my own damn book. (Shit there goes $10 more dollars into the charity donation.)
You have to find you. All of the questions about life that you could ever have the answer to are already inside of you. I found that Buddhism worked very well for me as far as "showing me a road map" was concerned, but whatever that means for you, you have to trust your gut and know you will find your way. Confidence comes from successes and failures. Maybe school isn't for you, or maybe you should be pursuing another field. Hold your parents in a place of unconditional love and tell them you need to figure this out for yourself. I promise you, one day they will understand.
Thanks for reading and pls keep me posted!! xoxo
Got a question? Drop me an email! JenFriel at TalkNerdyToMeLover dot com
ORRRRR you can message me on Facebook and if it's within 140 characters on the twitter!