Is adulthood about settling for a comfortable life, a job that pays the bills, an alright relationship, a mediocre house - going through the motions even if it doesn't make you 100% fulfilled?
Is that what being an adult is all about? Or do you risk everything to try and chase a life you're passionate about, even though you may end up losing everything and it has a high probability of not working out?
And if it doesn't work out, would you be okay looking back and saying, 'well at least I tried' or regret not picking that comfortable existence?
Photographs by Linda Smith
Should we settle?
"Look around you. How many people do you think are settling? Probably a hell of a lot. People settle into okay relationships, okay jobs, okay friends, and an okay life. Why? Because okay is comfortable. Okay pays the bills, and provides a warm bed at night. Some people are fine with okay, and guess what? That's okay. But okay is not thrilling, it isn't passionate, it's not life changing or unforgettable. Okay is not the reason you risk absolutely everything you've got for the smallest chance that something absolutely amazing could happen." - UnknownSorry, this is going to be another 1am deep and meaningful.
Are settling down and settling different things?
A person could have a job they're passionate about, an amazing house and a partner they love and it could all be thrilling and unforgettable. Another person could be travelling the world, doing a high profile job, dating lots of different cool people but feel unfulfilled. Settling down doesn't mean you're settling for an okay life, it depends on what's right for the individual.
Is okay enough?
At one point, I was in a relationship and it was okay. It was comfortable and I thought that was enough. I considered an okay future together, getting an house after uni, finding a job that payed the bills. The okayness all seemed so easy and that felt comforting. I was all but ready to make sure that future happened but my best friend ended up breaking-up with them for me because she thought I was being a moron. I was being a moron. I didn't love that person... hell, I didn't even want to kiss that person, let alone anything else. I was also being a selfish shell fish by not thinking about their feelings.
Instead, at the end of university, I went to America for 4 months to do an Internship on a whim. I've always been obsessed with America. I saved up by selling things I owned and by travelling to London at 4am in the morning, on the coach, to complete one-off acting jobs, whilst suffering from the effects of being underweight. It was difficult, 100% not the comfortable option I was going to pick.
3 years later, I've learnt that for better or for worse, I'm a crazy determined person that has crazy dreams and romantic notions and will never give up, even if someone is holding a gun to her head. So okay would never be enough for me. Is okay enough for some people out there? I don't know.
But, what do you think? To settle or not to settle? And is either option right or wrong?
LET'S GO SHOPPING