On My Way to Australia

Jason McCullough, the main character in the 1969 Western "Support Your Local Sheriff," is on his way to Australia when he witnesses a murder in a Colorado saloon. The town has no sheriff, and needing the money, Jason decides to take the position. Eventually, he marries and settles down there, never quite making it to Australia.

Great film, by the way. Not by review or performance standards, but it's a fun watch. I mention it because my long-time therapist, Bill, brought this movie up many times. I first started seeing Bill shortly after I dropped out of college (mid-2015). I never thought I would drop out of school, and at the time, I was very insecure and embarrassed that I was on a different path than I intended- and that a lot of my friends were on. Bill brought this movie up to emphasize one thing- McCullough was "on his way to Australia" for years. On his way, he diverted and his plans changed many times.

Eventually I did graduate college, but I learned that there is no shame in being on your own timeline and journey. I've recently been thinking about this because I am turning 30 this year. I thought that by 30, I would be married, making a lot of money, and ready to "settle down." This is not the case. And when I start to panic or doubt myself because I haven't accomplished certain milestones yet, I remind myself of this film and the message Bill shared with me all those years ago. I am on my own path, and paths can veer off. If I hadn't dropped out of school, I'd never have worked in radio. I wouldn't have met many of the friends I have now. I wouldn't be writing this, probably.

Being in your late 20's is interesting. Some of my friends have babies, some smoke like chimneys, some are looking for new jobs, getting in and out of new relationships, we're all over the place. And comparison, as they say, is the thief of joy. Rather than being hard on myself for not being in the same place as others, I try to be grateful for MY story and the curveballs I've been thrown. Every diversion, every hard change, has given me a toolbelt of lessons and new experiences. While it's important to have goals, it's also important not to put pressure on yourself in terms of how/when you reach them. You will get there through hard work and time, or you will accomplish other things you never even imagined for yourself.

So if, like me, you're still "on your way to Australia," and perhaps have been for quite some time, look around and appreciate where your life has led you. There is nothing productive in comparing your timeline to those around you- that's only going to leave you flustered and disappointed. And what can be disappointing about walking your individual path? Life can be fun if we treat it like a Western adventure, rather than a cookie-cutter outline told to us through societal standards and normalcy. Go easy on yourself, and you will get there eventually.

xoxo,

Bobby