RETURN OF THE MAC: NEW BEGINNINGS AS A WRITER AND CONTENT CREATOR

By Enya McIntyre

Typing more than the contents of a quick Google search .. now, this is something I have not done in a while.

There was a time when writing was all I seemed to do and honestly, it was also all I ever wanted to do. Growing up, I was the bookworm of the family (still am) and my love for words didn't stop there, I also was a meticulous diary keeper. I have a box in my room filled with diaries dating back to as young as 7 years old with detailed descriptions of the latest Hannah Montana episode and what scandalous thing my 12-month-old sister had gotten up to next.

Basically, it's not surprising I chose to complete a degree that centres around reading and writing. Journalism, New Media and English Literature was the obvious choice for me and remains one of my best decisions to date.

It's also not surprising that I chose to do a ski season after graduating. It's no secret that I'm an adventure junkie and chase new experiences so five months in the French Alps felt like a great fit for me. And a summer in Greece was no different.

However, it's the following decision that troubles me; what do I do now?

In college, it's easy. You never have to question what to do next because you've always got a to-do list of assignments the length of your arm reminding you. And you spend this time wishing it away; pining for the day reading lists and assessments are a distant memory. 

But the truth is when that time does come around, the void left can be daunting; where is all that time and energy meant to go now? Without the anchor of the academic calendar to structure your life around, the world is a blank page and it's up to you to decipher where you put the pen down.

The trouble is we're extremely privileged by the fact we are spoiled for choice. There are far greater opportunities available to us than any generation prior. Many start their final year with a graduate job in their field already secured. Some take their part-time jobs to full time and others take a break to figure it all out. Others, opt to extend their education by returning for a master's. And then there are those seeking adventure who pack their bags for farther fields such as Asia or Central America, choosing to work or just simply explore their surroundings.

As multifaceted individuals, it's hard to choose which path to follow. You can love the hustle and bustle of a busy city whilst also being drawn to the tranquillity of a peaceful beach town. It's possible to crave the stability of a good job and at the same time want the freedom provided by travelling with no plans or responsibilities.

It's rare to find someone whose interests are exclusively black or white. We are constantly making decisions not based simply on one desire but on the one we value most out of a bunch of others.

Whatever path you choose to follow now, who's to say you can't switch to another one years down the line? The important thing is to just keep moving. Choose what feels right at this present moment and the rest will follow.

That is what I like to tell myself and truly what I believe but lovely words like so are much easier said than done.

Eckart Tolle and the likes talk a lot about "the power of now" and the importance of embracing the present moment but when our body clocks are ticking onwards, credit union balances falling lower and lists of plans getting longer, it can be difficult not to get sucked in by overthinking and overplanning. 

Choosing what it is you want to do is only half the battle, then you have to think; how am I going to do this? The act of typing this and thinking it alone, has sent my heartbeat up a rate and my brain into a complete fluster with racing questions such as how will I afford this? When will I get a job in my industry? What if I'm too late? How will I fit all these plans into my schedule? 

This topic has "what am I doing with my life" energy all over it and that's a question that gets a Hussain Bolt reaction out of even the most organised of individuals and that is why it is precisely this that we need to remember.

Nobody has their shit together. Everyone is winging it. And if they look like they’ve it figured out, it’s likely it wasn’t always that way. 

Have you ever noticed how in almost every success story, the antagonist goes through a period of struggle before coming out on top? It’s unreasonable of us to expect ourselves to instantly be good at everything we try our hand at. You wouldn’t expect a child to cycle 5km uphill their first time on a bike so why do we expect ourselves to land six-figure executive positions straight out of college? 

We need to get comfortable with the fact we are starting again. We’re practically adult-babies being born into the real world. There’s going to be many firsts; a first big kid job interview, first pitch, first car, first solo trip .. the list is endless. And not all of them are going to go smoothly but we will learn from them all.

I think the biggest issue is, we forget that learning doesn’t stop when you finish your time in the education system, it’s a process that continues for the rest of our lives. We’ll still be experiencing ‘firsts’ at 72; perhaps our first grandkids and that will be new to us and teach us some more. It never stops but isn’t that a wonderful thought to think we will constantly be turning over new chapters and experience life through new versions of ourselves?

So to conclude, I like so many others, do not really know where I’m headed next in life but that’s okay. For now, what I do know is I like writing and travelling so that is where I’m going to make a start.

In the spirit of this, I am going to post regular content here and make use of my love of writing. Who knows where it will get me but to be honest, I'm glad because how boring would that predictability be?