Tracks That Built Me - Dancing Queen

I have no job planned. I don't know where I'll live. I don't know exactly what I want to do. And graduation is May 10.

Wow, I could so easily freak out right now.

This is how I feel daily. The uncertainty of post-grad life is like standing in the middle of a crowded dance floor; part of you just wants to dive in and let your body take over, and the other part of you just wants to go home and rethink how you ended up here.

I remember a time when I listened to "Dancing Queen" and thought, "Man, one day I'm going to be 17." When I was seventeen, I listened to the song again and was like, "Omg, I can't believe I'm finally 17." Now, when I listen to it, I think, "I remember the time when I was 17."

It's funny how quickly time moves us from anticipation to nostalgia. This reminds me of something I heard years ago.

There was this guest pastor who came to my childhood church once. He goes by Coach. He broke down the stages of life:?

0-20 is the first quarter.?

20-40 is the second quarter.?

40-60 is the third quarter.?

60-80 is the fourth quarter.

80-90 is overtime.?

And 90-100 is sudden death.

He was funny. And a dang good speaker.

Coach's breakdown made life feel like a game, with so much time left to play. And if I'm only in the second quarter, why not make it fun? Why not embrace the uncertainty and find joy in the little moments that make life feel full?

When I hear Dancing Queen, it reminds me that being 21 is supposed to be messy. It's supposed to be late nights, wrong turns, and figuring things out one step at a time. It's about belting out lyrics with your friends, spinning around your room alone, and letting yourself feel young even when the future feels heavy and approaching faster than you think.

Because in the grand scheme of things, graduation isn't the end.?

It's not even halftime.