The Timing.

I’m forever feeling as though I’m running out of time. And considering how much of my life so far has been determined by phases of time such as going to school, moving onto sixth form and leaving home for university, I’m pretty glad that I have no commitments post graduation. I’m excited to have experiences ahead of me, undefined by Big Ben. However, I’ve begun to question how much timing not only determines our careers and education, but how much it also determines how we feel about people.

Think about it. If you know you’ve only got a matter of weeks to spend with someone before they leave the country or before you move on yourself, the ‘romance’ will be far more intense. It’s like that wonderfully romantic evening spent kissing that mysterious guy on a beach in Thailand. You know that he’ll probably turn out to be some bloke from Watford who isn’t particularly interesting… Sometimes I think it’s the transience of the kiss that makes it special rather than the location or perhaps even the person…

For instance, when you meet a stranger who you connect with, it’s the thought that you might never see them again that makes everything all the more urgent. It’s the ‘what ifs’ that make the whole relationship far more magical and you can forever blame timing for something that potentially wouldn’t have worked out anyway. Despite this cynicism, I do believe that we come across people who we would probably have a life-long friendship with, or perhaps even a long term romance but due to the motion of that little thing we call ‘life’, moments fade and people come and go. However natural it is to form fleeting friendships, I still think it’s a great shame.

Despite my own battle with timing and relationships, I think it has become an overused excuse these days and if you’re really into someone; time, distance and even money won’t be an issue. So if that certain someone who you know will only be around for a brief fifteen minutes, or couple of months, gives you butterflies, maybe it’s worth making sure that your time frame isn’t set in stone. Give them the little time you have and enjoy their company because you don’t know when that next wonderful brief encounter might come knocking…

Tick Tock.

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The Gap Yah.

 

When I was in sixth form, I wanted my year at school to be “The Year That Didn’t”… go to university. It obviously didn’t happen and my inner rebel was disappointed. However, I ended up not going myself that year and began an amazing journey with one of my best friends exploring the wonders of colourful Mexico and, well, the redbull of Thailand. It was wild, silly, but most importantly, an experience that taught me there is more to life than my pleasant inner city school and silly boy worries.

As we met various fellow travellers, I began to realise that not everyone takes the same path in life and perhaps the ‘right’ path is actually not so perfect. Everyone seems to think that we should do our A levels, go to university, get a job and build a career. However, my gap year opened my eyes to other options. Some people were travelling post-divorce, others post university, others having lost their jobs and some had always travelled and never even contemplated a 9 to 5. At the time, I didn’t think much about it, but as I embark on my own voyage post graduation, whether that be back to London from Exeter or across the world to the middle east, I cannot help but get a thrill from the freedom that ensues and the importance of having fun. Why waste my time on a job in teaching that I will probably get bored of in five years time? Why get lost in a successful career in publishing that will end up in me working long hours in a stuffy office, for not very much money?  Instead, I want to live life to the full and enjoy myself for a while!

I hate to sound like a gap year tragedy (i.e someone who wears an anklet three years after they’ve arrived home) but I really would urge everyone to take a year out… or three. At the moment, we are all being forced to panic about spending cuts, crime rates and the future. For those of us who have a family who depend on us then perhaps it’s not the best time to up and leave. But for us students, I think we’ve been given a great opportunity to start something positive elsewhere and perhaps we should start thinking about clawing our way through the economy at a later date?

So, with two of my friends globetrotting post graduation and another two of my friends spending their third year of university abroad, I’ve started to think about getting out of London myself. I’m also hoping for there to be an influx in bronzed backpackers to join me with the forthcoming rise in tuition fees.

Put one finger up to the system, save some money and bugger off to India for the year where you can really decide whether a degree is worth £9000 or not, away from the pressures of society. Sound good to you?

… Right, I’ll dig out my back pack and join you.

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