In my day to day life I'm a planner. I do lists, I schedule things well ahead of time. I arrive on time. I'm a routine person. My alarm goes off at 04h39 every morning and I officially get out of bed at 04h50 (I snooze my alarm for 11min, for control). I do gym. Go to work. Come back home. Fix a quick supper. Pack clothes for the next day. Watch an hour of tv, max. Read/study/write. Sleep...and repeat.
With such a stringent structure you'd think I have my whole life figured out. I don't. So when people ask me that infamous "where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?" question, I sweat small bullets, then fumble for an acceptable answer that will leave the other party impressed.
The truth is, in 10 years time I see myself...getting dressed.
I've never sat down and mapped out my 10 year plan. All I know is that I just want to be happy and I want to be a good example to young girls who look like me. And...world peace *straightens tiara*. Lame I know, but that's the best I got!
I really admire people who have that futuristic vision but I, personally, find it limiting. I take each year as it comes. At most I'll think two years ahead, then things start getting a little blurry. I mean the world is so dynamic! Am I really sitting down and thinking about "T + 10 years" me? No. Ten years ago I owned a Nokia. NOKIA!! "NOKIA?" Some may ask. "What is that? Does it come in chocolate? Do I have to walk it every day? Is it potty trained? Can I wear it more than once and post it on Instagram?"
Ten years ago, (my) statistics show that every "Social Media Influencer" in South Africa was unemployed. Yes grandpa, that is a real job.
Ten years ago, Donald Trump was three years into telling people "You're fired". And now he's hired...
Ten years ago I had some of the best days of my life! I established some of my most precious friendships. I styled my hair into a Mohawk and owned a pair of green and a pair of red jeans. Although I was pretty focused academically, I probably didn't think of the future as much as I should've. I ran my own race and kept in my own lane. In a taxi. Probably after standing in a long queue at Bree or Noord and consequently being hit on by the guy selling cigarettes, boiled eggs and airtime. I was focused on getting from A to B and B was tomorrow. And tomorrow it would be the next day.
I guess not much has changed in that aspect with regards to the thinking process. I know what I need to do today for a better tomorrow. Literally tomorrow and the near future. But in 10 years' time? I'll be getting dressed, ready to start my day.
