There’s Not Just One Way…

There’s not one way…
To wear a shirt.
To sit in a chair.
To style your hair.
To live your life.

The people who inspire me most, the ones I’m in awe of, are those who’ve strayed from the beaten path. The ones who chose to be radically, unapologetically themselves. They didn’t follow the rulebook or wait for permission. They decided what felt right for them and went for it, regardless of other people’s opinions or what society might expect.

Whether that’s packing up and moving to another country, choosing to live off-grid, quitting their 9-to-5, going back to school at 40, or becoming an artist at 60—these are the humans who remind me: there is not just one way to do life.

They follow their intuition. They trust it, even when it whispers instead of shouts. Even when it leads them through discomfort, unknowns, or detours. Watching them create their own path gives me permission to do the same. It’s proof that we can choose again at any time. That it’s okay. Beautiful, even to pivot.

Because here’s the thing: we’re not locked into anything. Not the job. Not the city. Not the version of ourselves we were last year—or even last week. Life is fluid. And when something doesn’t feel aligned anymore, we’re allowed to turn the other way and shout, “Onwards!”

Lately, I’ve been trying to listen more closely to what my inner voice is telling me. But sometimes it speaks in riddles, or only leaves breadcrumbs. So, I’ve started two little practices to help me decipher the message. One is called Exploration Hour, and the other is the classic Morning Pages.

Exploration Hour is exactly what it sounds like: I give myself time, once or twice a week, to explore. Not physically (though I hope that part comes soon), but digitally and imaginatively. I fall down rabbit holes of things I might want to try—jobs, places to live, hobbies, new paths entirely. I let myself get curious without judgment or pressure and I take notes along the way.

Last week’s theme? Travel. I spent hours on sites like CoolWorks, diving into seasonal jobs in stunning places. Even just reading their homepage made me feel something:

“This is your life. Go live it.

Imagine if you were given a chance to embark on experiences that enhanced your life and the lives of others, changed the way you interact with the world around you, and connected you with the amazing places where you want to live. You don’t have to imagine anymore. Welcome to CoolWorks. We left the gate open—come on in and chase your dreams.”

I mean—come on. Goosebumps.
Maybe this is your sign to poke around too. Explore what’s out there. Let yourself remember that the world is still your oyster, even after you graduate, even after you’ve “settled.” That post-college energy—What will I be? Where will I go?—doesn’t have to disappear. It can evolve. And it’s okay if it’s less certain now. That excitement can come back if you let curiosity lead the way.

Morning Pages have been the other tool helping me tune in. If you’ve never tried it: you wake up and write three pages, stream-of-consciousness style. No rules. No editing. Just your inner world, spilled out onto the paper. Sometimes my brain is foggy and I don’t even know what I’m saying. Other times, the clarity is almost shocking. But either way, it’s honest. It’s raw. And it’s helping me meet myself where I’m really at.

And right now? I’m in a place of change.
Not a dramatic, everything’s-falling-apart kind of change—just a quiet knowing that something inside me is ready for more. The life I’m living isn’t bad. There’s nothing technically wrong. But still, something tugs at me. A whisper saying: This isn’t it. Not fully. Not yet.

I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I trust that if I keep showing up for myself—in the pages, in the explorations—I’ll find it. Or rather, it will find me. And when it does, I’ll be ready to pivot.

Because choosing to pivot, choosing to change isn’t always easy, especially when comfort is close by. But comfort isn’t the same as alignment. And if the path you’re on doesn’t feel like yours anymore, it’s okay to step off. It’s okay to want something else, something different, something more you. Even if it’s not the conventional choice.

Right now, I’m seeking work that supports the lifestyle I crave. Freedom to travel. Flexibility. The ability to go when the urge hits. I still want to build things—stability, a home, a future—but I want to do it in a way that makes sense for me. My version might look different from others, and that’s okay. I’m learning to stand behind it. To use my voice. To not shrink into the “shoulds.”

We forget sometimes: we are the ones living our own lives. Not the people whose opinions we let influence us. Not the voices we’ve absorbed that tell us what’s smart, safe, or respectable. If those judgments are taking up space in your head, it might be time to evict them. They don’t belong in your decision-making anymore.

There’s a book I came across—I Don’t Want to Grow Up by Scott Stillman—that beautifully encapsulates this. It’s about choosing a life that feels good right now, instead of obsessing over some distant “bigger picture.” He writes:

“When you start focusing on the life you want, rather than what you think will get you there, you’re on the right track.”

And this part stopped me in my tracks:

“The secret to life is having fun. Not convinced? Go out into a field and watch a hawk for an hour. Paddle out into the ocean and watch dolphins. Observe chipmunks in a park or butterflies on a bush.

Now imagine you could reason with them. Tell them that life isn’t about fun—that it’s about hard work and seriousness.

What do you think they’d say to you?

What might they try to teach us?”

Let that sink in.

So maybe this is your reminder: there’s not one way to do life. There’s your way. That’s what matters most. Maybe your life won’t look like your parents’ or your friends’ or your neighbor’s. That’s okay. It’s not supposed to.

I hope this “There’s Not One Way” series introduces you to the many ways people are choosing to live. I hope it lights a fire in you. I hope it gives you permission to take a leap, try something new, or simply trust your next step—even if it’s small.

Because you’ve got this. Leap and the net will appear!! I truly believe the universe will take care of you when you start taking care of your soul.