The Reality Check
Swings and roundabouts. That’s what life is like, particularly when you turn another year older. The adulation of celebrating another birthday spent on this planet from family, friends and work colleagues is a feeling that’s hard to put into words, let alone emotions.
I’m 24-years-old and in the past few weeks, I have been doing some serious self-discovery, figuring out who the real me is. The question of figuring yourself out is something that does not happen overnight, but takes days, weeks, months and years to figure out who you are as a person.
Social media personas aside, this self-discovery has given me a reality check that will no doubt shape me for the rest of my life, as well as my professional career as a journalist. Here’s why.
I enjoy my own company… a lot.
The first thing that comes to mind whenever peers in the journalism, media and data analytics industries or my family come to me is how confident and outgoing I am. That’s true to a degree, but what I enjoy is being able to be alone, indoors and outdoors and appreciate my own company.
What it has instilled in me is a mindset that condemns victimhood and always seeks to move forward. Maybe it’s a trait I have developed since childhood, but whatever it is, it’s given me the confidence to go out into the world and fully commit to my trade in the journalism and media industries.
That’s why after a long day at work, I prefer to retreat in my bedroom and recharge from the noise of the outside world. The solitude of being alone in a world that never stops talking is essential for me to develop my creativity and critical thinking skills, as well as switching off from the real world.
Talk less, listen more
Until I turned 24 in February, I was not a great listener. I would make judgements on my own accord without listening to the wisdom of my parents and family members when making major career and personal decisions.
Fast-forward to now and I’m finding my listening skills have improved dramatically. I’m making less rash decisions and I’m allowing myself time to think things through before going all in on my final decision, whether if it’s accepting a job offer or buying a new item of clothing or technology.
Delaying gratification over instant gratification has been pivotal towards my shift in my communication and teamwork skills. I’m finding that I can handle stressful situations both individually and in a team more better, as well as listen to all viewpoints before giving my own viewpoint on an issue or topic.
It’s taken me so long to grasp the concept but it’s better to read and listen more to information than it is to instantly talk gibberish that does not make sense and hardly benefits the people around you.
Good friends are temporary, great friends last forever
In my life, I have had many friends come and go. It’s how life works, right? There have been occasions where the friendship I had with some people was not a true friendship, but merely a group of acquaintances that I bumped into for a few years and left behind several months after.
I’m very lucky to have not just one close friend, but three close friends who I can easily turn to if I’m having a bad day, as well as having a natter in person or over the phone via text or calling them directly. The beauty of it is those three friendships I have crafted have taken years to get to where they are now.
For someone who finds making friendships difficult with Asperger’s Syndrome, it’s not been easy, but I would not exchange the three close friends I have for the world. They are three inspiring and kind women who inspire me to push myself out of my comfort zone and be the best version of myself.
It’s incredible what a reality check can do to one’s state of mind and while it’s made me more aware of the person I want to be, it’s made me recognise that the person behind the social media exterior is different in person to the one that’s portraying a character online.
I’m excited and nervous about this decade, but the goal remains the same and that’s to always be open to new viewpoints, ideas and challenges while staying true to yourself, both professionally and personally.
