A lesson without a class room

I always thought growing up meant having answers.
When I was younger, I believed adults knew exactly what they were doing. I thought that one day I would wake up and suddenly understand what career I wanted, where I wanted to live, who I wanted to become, and how to handle every problem.
But that day never came.
Instead, I became better at pretending I knew what I was doing.
One afternoon, I was sitting on a bench outside a small shop, waiting for my ride. I had been having one of those days where everything felt confusing. My plans weren't working, I was worried about my future, and I kept comparing myself with people who seemed to be doing much better.
An elderly man was sitting nearby, reading a newspaper.
After a while, he looked at me and asked, “Long day?”
I smiled and said, “Something like that.”
He folded his newspaper and asked what was wrong.
I didn't know why, but I told him. I talked about feeling behind, making mistakes, and not knowing whether I was making the right choices.He listened without interrupting.
Then he said, “You know, when I was your age, I thought I was already late.”
I looked at him, surprised.
He smiled and continued, “I changed my work three times. I failed at one business. I moved to another city. I started again when people around me thought I should have settled down.”
I asked him how he knew what to do.
He laughed.
“I didn't.” That answer stayed with me.
He told me that people often look back at their lives and make everything seem planned. But real life doesn't work like that. Most people are simply making the best decision they can with the information they have at that moment.
“Don't demand a perfect plan from yourself,” he said. “Just make sure you keep moving.”
My ride arrived a few minutes later.
Before leaving, I thanked him. That evening, I opened my notebook and looked at the plans I had written months ago. Instead of feeling disappointed that I hadn't completed everything, I added one new line:
“It is okay if I change the plan.” Maybe growing up wasn't about having all the answers after all.
Maybe it was about learning to live with uncertainty, making mistakes without hating yourself for them, and having the courage to begin again whenever necessary.I still don't know exactly where my life is going.
But for the first time, I don't feel like I need to.