Hey there, it’s your weekly dose of Daniel and The Vibe, comin’ in hot. Time is flyin’, am I right? We’re smack in the midst of “spooky season” – a brand new, made-up term no doubt created by an evil genius marketing team – a term that causes my eyes to roll to the back of my head.

I notice and mention the fast and furious passage of time a lot, because it genuinely blows my mind how sometimes it feels like life’s crawling at a snail’s pace, and other times you wonder where the hell the days have gone.

I find that there’s a subtle but present anxiety that often accompanies the acknowledgement that life often feels like it’s in fast forward – we can start to feel like we’re missing out. And, if you couple this with feelings like you’re not where you thought you’d be on your imaginary projected timeline, it can manifest as an emotional and existential crisis.

Never fear, Daniel’s here. Today I want to perspectivize – a brand new, made-up term I think I just made up – on the idea that the life we’re meant to experience will always find us, no matter what.

Buckle up, buttercup! Let’s take a ride.

ready when you are

Ah, humans. We’re so cute when we think we’ve got life all figured out. It’s not our fault, though; the systems we’re born into provide a predictable template for many people to follow and, in turn, we often slip into comparison mode based on how our timelines unfold.

Elementary school, high school, college, job, marriage by 25, kids by 30, happily ever after or divorce, and then you die. Sounds fun, don’t it?

Of course I’m oversimplifying, but let’s be real, there seems to be a societally-prescribed trajectory for life on earth. While some aspects of “the norm” are appealing and fulfilling, I personally think most of it is bull$#!%. We are all built so wildly different that the chronological unfolding of events in our lives should be just as wildly different.

There is no “right” or “wrong” timing for things to happen in life. No matter what age or stage you’re at, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. If you’re ever feeling off about this, it’s likely because you’re comparing yourself to someone who isn’t you. Cut that $#!% out!

If you feel like your ship has sailed – trust that if you’re meant to sail, another boat will show up when you’re ready. Also be prepared that you might not be a damn sailor! You might actually be meant for adventures on the earth or in the sky.

If there’s something in your work life, personal life, or spiritual quest that you want to experience but haven’t yet, rest assured that if it’s meant to be in your reality, there’s nothing that can stop it from finding you.

love will find a way

The best example I could ever give about “not missing your boat” is the long and winding road that led me to my husband, Steve. Our origin story is pretty epic – a journey filled with twists and turns that stretches over 20 years. I can’t share the whole story here because it’s too long and insane, but I’ll give you the gist of it to illustrate how the Universe will conspire to bring you exactly what you need, exactly when you’re ready for it.

Steve and I first met when I was 19 and he was 20. My first day working at American Eagle at the Stone Road Mall in Guelph was his last day. I remember him coming in the store and thinking “Holy $#!%! That guy is hot! A walking Disney prince. I’m gonna marry that guy.” Steve does not remember meeting me (how sweet).

Eventually, a mutual friend wanted to set me up with someone and I said “Is it STEVE!?”. It wasn’t. But that prompted them to set Steve and I up. We started dating, but it was short-lived due to some now-hilarious drama and ill-fated-timing; Steve was about to move to Toronto and it wasn’t going to work out. I was beyond bummed about this, but life went on.

We stayed in touch for a bit, but then we lost touch. Over the years, I would go on to date a small series of trolls and losers, always wishing it had worked out with that Disney Prince from American Eagle.

A few years later, the day I moved to Toronto, in fact, I took my first streetcar from where I lived in the Beach to go meet some friends for dinner in the Distillery District. I went way too far and got off at the “wrong” stop in the west end. The doors opened, I walked down the stairs, and seconds after my feet hit the sidewalk I literally bumped right into Steve! It was so shocking that I ran in the other direction. The Universe delivered my Prince again and I ran! I wasn’t ready.

The next year, I moved downtown. The day I moved, I went to a Starbucks near my new place. In the line in front of me was… yes, Steve! Fate brought us together again, but the timing still wasn’t right as he was seeing someone at the time. We weren’t ready.

The next year I ended a toxic relationship I was in, moved again, and shortly after that I received a random Facebook message from, you guessed it, Steve! He had been watching the show Glee and one of the characters reminded him of me – obviously this character was handsome, charming and a great singer ;)

We finally reconnected. I was ready! After what was now 7 years from the day we first met, dated for 5 years, and now we’ve been married for 8!

So while this is absolutely the short and sweet, glossed-over version of the story, it goes to show that what’s meant for you will find you, whether you like it or not… but especially if you like it.

we are where we are

The old adage “if it’s meant to be, it will be” is legit. Don’t stress over what you think is supposed to happen, or when; it’s just not worth it.

Also, keep in mind that most of us subconsciously think we have a better idea of how life should play out than the source of all creation – that’s kinda silly if you think about it. Based on our limited perspective of how things can play out, we can feel like we’re not doing life properly.

It can be easy to get caught up in negative self talk like “I’m too old” or “It’s too late” or “I missed my chance”, but it’s easier to trust that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be at all times.

With all of the infinite possibilities for how the timelines of our life can unfold, the path of least resistance is often to simply shut your yap and trust the process.

While this sort of trust can be a real challenge, it can also be incredibly magical if you allow the Universe to do what it does best; that’s when you start to flow into amazing experiences that you never thought possible.

So as we continue to collectively navigate what it means to live our best lives, make sure you’re taking care of the human whose life you’re living. Loving yourself is the first step to lining up with a truly incredible life.