Oh the Scandal

Many things have been weighing on my mind as of late. The trouble with that is it gives me a bit of a mental drain clog. It's hard to pick one thread of thought to go with, and so I haven't written anything until now.
 So I think I will use the next few blogs as a strong mental dose of Drain-O. Bear with me through the ensuing chaos; there may be something interesting to be discovered in this little mind of mine.
 I suppose the easiest thought to process out at the moment is also the weightiest. It's about life direction and drive. Vague, no? Well, let's try it on for size anyway.
 How many of you out there in this supreme cyber world know exactly where you want your life to go? How many figured out the direction you were destined to take at a young age? I can trust that the number of people who did in fact know their life's direction when they were in their twenties is remarkably small.
 So then why does society always seem to put the pressure on when you hit your twenties? I'm only 21; but I am not married(anymore, granted), and I don't have a clue yet as to what I should be doing in school. I have spent the last year or two bouncing in and out of college for that very reason; I don't know what I want out of this life. Yet. And despite my family assuring me I don't have to have it all figured out this second, I find that actions speak much louder than words; and the actions I see tell me a different story.
 Now don't get me wrong, please. I've no doubt in my mind that my family loves me regardless; I know first hand that they won't abandon me for my lack of direction in life. But general society as a whole seems to emit this ludicrous idea that you're a nobody if you aren't a) settled down and starting a beautiful family by my age, b) with the one true love of your life at my age, or c) a completely hopeless case if you aren't at least in school getting a degree so you can have a killer six figure job after college.
Now, I realize that these ideals don't apply to everyone individually. I am sure that anyone reading this now will tell me I'm wrong, it's not that way. But when I look in the media, what I see is far different.
Here's my take on it.
If you have you're life dream all neatly tied away in a bright purple bow by the time you're in your twenties, you have my eternal awe. But I really don't think that's so. Because the people who think they have it all figured out are usually the ones who fall flat on their face and wonder how the hell they got there. I know, because I was one of those people. It was a rude wake up call, and I find that many people have experienced the same thing. I love my family, because they encourage self discovery and look at "failure" as just another growing pain. If I had grown up being taught any differently, I would never have made it alive through this divorce.
 I got married young to the first willing guy because I thought I had to; I wasn't in school, and the next thing on my "Grown Up List," as my mother likes to call it, was to get married. I was wrong. Anyone who thinks there is a timer on their lives, or that they *have* to do something is dead wrong.
I like that progresive way of thinking. It really appeals to me. In a life full of mistakes and wrong choices, it feels good to know it's all just another growing pain.
And with that in mind, I have decided to go back to school. And I have realized it's not about when you go, but why you go. And if you have those mixed up, you'll soon find out.
So, lesson today kids? Don't buy the hype. Society is all high ideals and scandal; none of which a shmuck like me really needs!