If I had to title my adult life, it would definitely be An Unexpected Journey [I mean, it’s a true statement, and I mean, Tolkien..].

You see, over the past couple of weeks I have been reflecting on the last decade of my life. I’ve been reflecting because I just celebrated my 10 year anniversary of graduating COLLEGE. Whoa. It feels like it was a completely different life, and back then, I imagined a completely different life for myself.

10 years ago me:10 years ago I graduated college. I was 22 years old, ruining my hair by bleaching it every three weeks, I was starting a job IN MY CHOSEN MAJOR (which was kind of a big deal), I did my very first princess party (still doing this one actually), I was moving out of my parents’ house for the first time and into my first house (rented with two other girls), and was really feeling like an adult. HA. Twenty-two is so young. SO YOUNG. But, I felt so grown up. Honestly, that girl would not recognize me today.

A few things 2009 Katy would have said would happen in the next ten years:

• Definitely get married in the next couple of years after college
• Be working the same job (got laid off a year and a half into it)
• Have a kid by 30 (HA)
• Possibly be a homemaker (current me shudders) while teaching private violin lessons
• Basically live the typical “dream” of people in the south..

My life now is just a bit different (insert sarcasm). I am single and haven’t even been close to doing the married thing. Definitely no kids, but I do have the most perfect munchkin cat named Seraphina who goes everywhere with me. And, honestly, I’m not sure if I even want actual kids. I work three jobs (the full time day job, plus princessing and music), rarely have a day off, but I honestly don’t know what I’d do with myself if I didn’t stay busy.

Amazing things that have actually happened:

• Bought a house on my own – a really fantastic house
  
• Started taking ballet again and got en pointe for the very first time at age 30
• Traveled the world.. I’ve spent a month in Ireland, been to Thailand, South Korea, Scotland, Australia, and even went to New Zealand by myself.
• Became concert master of my community orchestra
• Performed with KYGO (what?!!) in front of the largest crowd I’ve ever seen
  

  That’s me seated in the spotlight

  

  View from the stage

Now, who’s to say that these things would have still happened if I had taken the traditional route? I mean, I definitely wouldn’t have traveled across the world on my own, I probably wouldn’t have spend a month in Ireland with my best friend, and I probably wouldn’t have taken some of the opportunities that have come my way or had been offered some of those opportunities.

All of this to simply say, take the unexpected route. Don’t plan out your life, because odds are, it’s going to turn out oh so differently. I am so incredibly grateful that I am not living the life that 10 years ago me planned. I have done so many incredible things on my own, and I think it’s something to be proud of.