How often do you catch yourself saying, “I wish I would’ve known that sooner?” For the past month, I’ve been learning something new every day. This isn’t a whole thing where I learn something from a book or search Google for a random fact, it’s as simple as learning that one of my associates has just gone through some heartbreak, or that another associate doesn’t like to eat hot dogs with toppings. 

You see, earlier this year I turned 26 and my mind has been a bit of a rollercoaster ever since. I can sometimes hear my 12-year-old self yelling at me and asking where my wife and kids are at. (12-year-old Christian – if you’re reading this, screw you, this is tougher than it sounded 14 years ago) I feel like I’m experienced enough as a 12-year-old to say that life at 12 was pretty easy in comparison to now. If we’re going to be honest with ourselves, I think that many of us can relate to that little voice inside of us, but we continue to ignore it because, let’s face it, our priorities have changed and time flies like a b-word. 

In my head, I can admit I’ve told myself that this was the time to get married and that it was just a matter of popping the question. It hasn’t happened and frankly, I don’t know if I’ll ever convince myself to get to that point. I’m way too indecisive. Call it whatever you want, but why would I want to lose my freedom or my “joie de vivre” for a thing that is input to our minds since we’re kids by society. I know that sounds a little bit negative or pessimistic, but other than taxes, I don’t see the real purpose of marriage. 

Maybe if I would’ve known sooner, I wouldn’t have this weight of pressure that I put on myself from the beginning, but I guess that’s life right? Sooner is a word used all too often that’s really not ever possible.