L for Lost

It always starts as a simple walk in the wrong direction. And as you go, you realize the places and buildings are becoming less and less familiar. The lights don’t flicker the same way and every brush of chill in your hair is time wasted in the cold. You remember it’s the 21st century so you pull out your phone and it tells you where you went wrong with directions and it tells you to turn back around and make a left in M Street. From there is a 30-minute walk to where you parked. But if your friend is hungry, you two have to stop by a burger place to get something to eat and a shake. You take pictures where there’s pretty lights and you walk in a five-star, five-diamond hotel where your friend has to tell you to “walk like you’re civilized” so two you won’t look suspicious. You sit in their lobby that smells like the best perfume you’ve ever smelt and laugh among yourselves because they have food you almost can’t afford. You almost get lost one more time and now that you remember it, you hope your car didn’t get towed.

The ambiance of our car ride back wasn’t any different from when we left home. The excitement was still there and we knew we’d come back again and again no matter how the cold made us feel that night. We got a little lost and that was okay. We saw more places than we could’ve had we not walked in the wrong direction. Things will get more and more familiar as you get to know them. Just like people. And school. And life.

Maybe i’m saying feeling lost about your decision to become this instead of that wouldn’t automatically mean you messed up. Some detours are needed to get to where you should be. Every experience, every lesson has a way of adding flavor and color to your life. No matter how messy and confusing things look now, you’ll find a burger place, a Banana Republic and you’ll get to sit in the lobby of a luxury hotel along the way. And don’t forget to take pictures! These moments you’ll always want to remember.

Stay warm and good luck on the finals! <3