[cfallin]

I can totally relate to the instinct to plan things, and "do it right" the first time. Life is short; your 20s are shorter; don't waste them!

At the 'wise old' age of 26, though, after changing paths twice (PhD dropout->job 1->current job) and swallowing many earlier words, I've started to accept that we just can't know everything in advance, and it's OK to be wrong and "waste" time. And furthermore that it's not really a waste, because it teaches you.

Journey rather than destination, and all that.

I guess what I'm saying is, yes, be introspective, know yourself, do things for the 'right' reasons (because you want to do them and are passionate, not because others expect you to do so) BUT give yourself permission to change your mind, and to try different things! If your standard is "live life perfectly the first time", you're bound to have regrets. If your standard is "let's see what happens" then you'll be fine :-)

[Snhr]

"Let's see what happens" is how I love to live my life but sometimes it's just not possible given how affected I am by external stimulus because of my introversion and ADD. So I have to plan out some things but I'm not looking for the perfect life. I've learned from past experiences that wanting something to be perfect is always the wrong way to look at something because no matter how hard you try you will never achieve it.