Every 20something's dilemma: the purpose-driven life (part one)

Let's get cliché up in here. I graduated college and moved back to the Bay Area about a year ago. And in the past year, I:



- trained for my first half-marathon
- made yoga my regimen
- adopted a dog
- started a business
- dramatically altered my life's course
- barely made it through a long distance relationship across the country (don't worry, guys...we made it!)
- drove from coast to coast — twice
- navigated Craigslist for a job
- decided to stop working out and dieting for a few months... (Do I regret it? Only when I try fitting into tight clothing)
- landed yet another great job, this time in an entirely new field for me
- started blogging personally
- finally started paying for my own Netflix account
- started using Twitter

2013, it's been real. And it's been fun. But it's also been rough, hard, difficult, trying, and confusing most of the time. But here's to a new year where I actually know myself (kind of) better.

Unlike last year, I'm starting off January....

...knowing exactly who I am, what I want, and where I want to be

...having a set plan with room for changes

....with a specific money-saving routine

....with specific personal-growth goals, like 1) losing 10 lbs, 2) getting my own place, and 3) finding progress in my career.

If you're still with me by this point, you'll notice I haven't mentioned one thing about the word "Purpose."  Yeah, that's a sticky one...

Purpose doesn't come at the beginning of the calendar year, and it isn't found once you've found a new job. It doesn't come when you weigh 5 lbs less, and it doesn't arrive once your savings account has hit $5,000.

Purpose comes from within, and it comes in spite of/because/simultaneously/regardless of your life plans, progress, and situation.

Why do you live? Why do you carry on and try to carve a niche into your corner of the world?

If you can answer that, I will high-five you through the Internet, and maybe ask you to coffee.

I am still formulating my answer. And I think that's my New Year's resolution for 2014 (the real one).

Anyway, this is an introductory post/year-in-review more than anything. I want to write more about purpose-driven lives for college grads once I've gained a little more wisdom....or had a beer.

To be continued....