As we grow up dreaming of what our lives will look like, we are completely shaped and molded by the people and environment around us. As we figure out who we are and who we want to be, we look to the world to help understand where we fit in; we use it as our guide. This is how developmental milestones are determined and allow us to grasp where we are in our lifetime, how much time we have left, and how much time we have completed. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, and all the other firsts. Eventually, we all look around and realize our dreams have evolved and our plans have changed to meet with reality. As much as we try, we have no control over what happens next.

Over the years, as I have done my best to grow up, I have only come to learn how young I am. I spoke with my grandpa on his deathbed and watched my grandma tell him she loved him, and all the 53 years they were married. As I sat there only dreaming of one day finding a love like theirs, I was faced with the stories of their first marriages and blended family vacations, forcing me to accept that a life so beautiful does not come from a well-organized plan.