The prospect of homelessness

Lately I've been seeking advice from a lot of people, because I don't know what I'm doing with my life and other such minor conundrums.

I have five short weeks to find a job and a place to live. Should I be stressed out about this little factoid? Probably. Am I? Not really, surprisingly.

I'm on the lookout for housing, both of the indoor and outdoor variety. Every time we walk somewhere I can't help but scope out park benches and alleyways and weigh the risks of spending a night there. Is it secluded enough to fall asleep but public enough to run for help if I get attacked? Would the security guys kick me out? Are there other homeless people around?

I'm hoping these efforts of mine are futile because I actually really don't want to be sleeping on the street.

Indoor housing is more promising, but also more expensive. A cheap apartment around here is at least $200 more than I would have ever considered paying in Provo. Doable though, if you have a job. Unfortunately a job I have not.

"You'll figure it out," everyone says. "I doubt you'll be sleeping on the street."

Paha. Comforting.

On Thursday I had a meeting with a man at work. He was older and wise-looking. The second I sat down in his office he went into mentor mode.

"Career paths only exist in retrospect," he said. "Don't make pro-con lists. Those never got me anywhere. Just do what feels right. Make a list of things you want to do and make a list of things you don't want to do, and if you choose one of the things you do want, then it will be the right thing."

In the beginning of his little speech I was thinking, "Yeah. This is good stuff. What a wise old man." And then I realized, everyone has some little nugget of advice they want to drop into my life. Everyone thinks that their way of thinking is the right way.

Historically, I've been very apt to believe people when they tell me how or when things should be done. People are convincing, you know? Especially when they're old and they've had successful career. But I'm learning to take things for what they're worth and nothing more. I'd say every piece of advice is probably worth one minute of consideration. You take that minute to weigh and measure it, and then you tuck it in your back pocket for further consideration later or you throw it out. Some pieces of advice are valuable, to be sure, but everyone's situation is different and nobody has all the answers. In the end you have to find your own way.