Tangspiration: Where were YOU three years ago?

Hey Everyone!

Three years doesn’t sound like a very long time. But in three years, you could complete a university degree, you could have travelled the globe and back and most importantly, you could have changed into a very different person. Sometimes when we go through life, we forget about the big picture. We forget that there is more to life than our 9 to 6 job and our train rides to and fro, or getting the latest Gucci tote and whether the guy who keeps looking at you at the gym will ever find enough guts to ask you on a date.

We forget the big picture, especially during our low points and even when we’re confused where our life is taking us and what direction we need to go next. Trust me, I’m there now. I’m graduating this year from college and I have no idea what I’m going to do next or whether what I should be doing is what I should do for bascially the “rest” of my life. Does life stand still for the remaining term? No, not at all. The only question you have to ask yourself is ‘where were you 3 years ago?” That’s it. Because in just three years, your life can twist and turn until you land in a totally different position in life in a totally different situation in life that sometimes you’d never even expect. That happened to me at least.

Three years ago, I was 17 years old. High School, Junior Year. I had my first boyfriend, my first love, and I haven’t even broken up with him yet. Never did I know that that breakup would teach me a lot about myself and even about other people. My grades were dropping and I was taking really hard classes. I had an enormous extracurricular workload and I was brash, didn’t care much about people and just wanted to go about doing my own thing because I had so much to do. I wasn’t a people person at all. People didn’t like me very much, they called me “powerschool girl” because all they thought I cared about was my grades. Yet, they were slipping and the only really great thing in my life was my boyfriend and my small group of friends. I argued a lot with my mom, I ate dinner in my room, I didn’t wear make-up because I didn’t care, and I studied a ridiculous amount, just trying to get the grades up and wondering why on god’s earth they weren’t where they were supposed to be. I didn’t know what Uni I’d go to, didn’t even know that I’d be going to Australia, I didn’t even know that I’d break up with my boyfriend. All that changed. That was me three years ago.

It’s safe to say that I am totally a different person now. It in fact is probably a ridiculous 180 degree turn, in just three years. Thus in another three years, I could be a totally different person than what I am now in a totally different situation. Life is like that. Life throws you twists and turns and is a continuous journey to somewhere hopefully better that is if you choose it be better. Life is simply a sum of all your decisions in life and where you eventually end up is a result of either a good or bad decision.

I never really understood when a 24 year old would ask my age and then gawk that I’m just 20. I never really understood when a 24 year old would tell me “I’m so young”. I mean, I’m not that much younger. I’m just four years younger than you, what’s the big deal? But then I ask myself where I was three years ago and I say man, did I change. I guess I do have a long way to go and I reckon when I’m 24, I’ll tell a 20 year old the same thing but where I’ll be when I’m 24 remains a mystery. I could be in Paris, or I could be in Africa working at a Safari, I don’t know, who knows! Who knows what life has in store for me.

I guess that’s the beauty of life though. You never really know where you’ll end up. But I say, make the best decisions you can and put the best effort you can into the things that matter most to you now and let life decide the rest.

Hope you got something out of this :)

Love,
Roseanne

14 comments

  • Kat

    Hi Roseanne! that´s a great and a very interesting post. I am so thankful for that and it helps me a lot, because at the moment I am a little bit in a crisis…lost my job, have fears about my future, because I really don´t know what I can excpect from my life. Sometimes I am so tired and impatient about my life – but I think everything has a reason! I don´t have dreams anymore, and that´s so sad :( Do you have any tips how to “awake” and to have goals in life again?

    thank you again, my dear! :)
    Have a nice day and much love, Kat

    • roseannetangrs (author)

      Hi Kat,

      Thank you and I am sorry to hear what’s happened and it’s true, I believe everything happens for a reason and sometimes we won’t know what that reason is until much later but when we look back on it, it becomes the best thing that could have happened :)

      Perhaps write down a list of everything that you want in life and believe that you can make them happen :) good luck! xx

  • michelle

    “Life is simply a sum of all your decisions in life and where you eventually end up is a result of either a good or bad decision.”

    This line is very well said, keep writing, love your blog.. =)

  • L

    I’ve followed your blog and YouTube channel for a while, and I found this post very relatable and touching. I’m a senior graduating college this year too, and I’m crazy clueless about my future.

    Just wanted to say that while you (and I for sure) aren’t sure of what our futures hold – Rose Anne, you’ve certainly accomplished so much and have made a path for yourself w/ this blog and your beauty channel. Just look at all the publications you have been featured in on the side of the page! It’s not easy!

    • roseannetangrs (author)

      Thanks for following and supporting me all this while :) I know right? I have no idea about my future, I guess I have something good going on here eh? Yeah, takes a lot of work and dedication but it’s worth helping y’all out :) xx good luck to you love!

  • Rukeia

    A very well put article! I agree with every word. Glad your days are better now. I can’t wait to go to college. Only one more month of school left! :)

    • roseannetangrs (author)

      Thanks Rukeia, good luck with college!

  • Lily

    Wow… three years.
    Three years ago, I was still in the first year of GCSEs. I hadn’t met my current best friend, and I didn’t know my current boyfriend. I was stuck in a rut and a bit of an emotional pitfall.
    I wasn’t putting in enough effort at school, or in life really… I had so little independence, no job, no sense.
    What a difference three years makes! Now I’m in the last year of school, with only six months to go (five, really) until I finish for good (EEEK!). I’ve got the world’s loveliest best friends and boyfriend (even if they are all scientists…), I’ve got my head screwed on, I’ve got a good part-time job outside school, I’ve got experience roaming around the world (including Singapore) either by myself or in school groups.
    Just, wow.
    Thanks so much for this post, it’s seriously made my day ^_^

    • roseannetangrs (author)

      Thanks Lily for sharing your story! It’s great that you’ve come a ways away from your past!

  • kristy

    i really love this entry because it got me thinking too. in 3 years, i went to australia to do my degree, met a guy there who is now my boyfriend, completed my degree and came back to singapore thinking, “what now?” and the funny thing is i’m 24, and the thought of “you’re only 20, that’s so young!” did cross my mind. haha! i agree that we all will change depending on the decision we make along the way. thanks for posting such an inspirational entry.

  • Pink rider

    Seriously,it’s touching. I just lost my three-year relationship and I’m going to graduate too. Also, I’m 24. I never thought of age before 24, but I really feel my age this year. When a girl turns 24, everything will change. Enjoy your time and enjoy your young 20. You will never have it back.

    • roseannetangrs (author)

      Thanks dear, I hope you’re holding up well, you still have a long way ahead as well!

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