Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?
I’ve always loathed this question. “Why are you asking me this,” is always my immediate thought. I’ve heard it in job interviews, dates I’ve gone on, and every time, I’d cringe a bit and say to myself, “Really?”
What makes some people have this 5 or 10 year plan and others (ME), just want to feel free of that type of mindset? Yes, I have some plans/goals in my head. 10 years ago it would be, “Settled down with a husband and be a mom.” My, how ideas can change. I won’t be having kids and I have to be okay with that picture. Ideas we’ve envisioned and daydream of fade away before we can even finish reading the current page we’re on. At times, people set their sights on the end goal, and settle for nothing less. In the process, you miss out on all the unexpected colors not yet chosen or discovered.
I’ve never been one to fill in all the blanks or draw in pen if I have a pencil. I have goals that I commit to and do everything within reason to make them happen, but a full vision or canvas painted (corner to corner) of where I’ll be by a certain time? No can do, buckaroo. I’ll paint the blue sky and maybe showcase the glimmering sun cascading upon the canvas…but the rest? I’ll let the scene fill in, little by little. I need freedom to grow with the colors I’m seeing day to day; and if my shades darken or lighten as time passes, have room to adapt to that and darken the sky. I want to be a writer. I want to have time to write my novel and not be running on empty so often. Do I know when that will happen? No. But I know I will finish my novel. With each stroke made, I’ll create my vision of art.