The Tipping Points of Life

Two very important conversations took place today on very opposite ends of the spectrum. However, both are great representations of where I am (and many people my age) are in their life.

First, my friend Yvonne and I met up for coffee. Yvonne is moving to South Carolina to pursue a reporting position. It is the first time she is moving somewhere without knowing anyone already in the area. As we spoke, it was clear she was both excited and nervous about the transition. But she said despite the anxiety of the “unknown”, it was a chance to start with a clean slate. Though I am not moving to another state, I too have the ability to “start afresh”. In fact, I would define it as a one of those few tipping points in life. No longer will my life be dictated by the seasons, off in the summer and back to work in the fall. Life becomes an everyday affair, 365 days a year. No longer will I be back and forth between internships, school, Ta-ing and such. I will be able to focus my energy in a particular field or project. No longer will be friends be made as a matter of convenience, thrown together due to similar class schedules.

I have an option to redefine who I am as a professional and as a friend. The end of class means the start of an adult life…a tipping point into the future.

Which transitions perfectly into conversation number two…one about the status of my car’s health. For those of you who don’t know, I have a 6 year-old Ford Escort ZX2, the sportier version of the traditional Escort. At 101,000 miles, this car has been pushed farther and survived longer than most Fords. In fact, most are amazed it has even made it this far with the pressure I put on it. So far, my costliest repair has been a replaced compressor at $300. Unfortunately, my car’s air conditioning recently went out, sending me to the dealer (ugh). The phone call today confirmed my worst fears – a $700 repair to replace a part and flush the system. Naturally I did what any 26 year-old woman would do in this situation – I called my father. The conversation that proceeded illuminated another tipping point in my life…big purchases and big risks. Up until this point I haven’t had any major purchases short of my MacBook. Today I had to make the decision of whether to buy myself time by putting $700 into a car that may very well fail me in the next 6 months, but that would prevent me from having to make car payments I can’t afford OR risk putting off the repair to wait for a job, that may not come soon, to pay for a new car AT the same time that my school loan payments start. I’m at a time when sacrifices begin and responsibilities take the place of personal desire. A time when roots get planted, involuntarily or voluntarily.

What a day.

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Tags: car repairs, clean slate, ford, life, moving, school, tipping points, transition