In the grand theater of life, we often find ourselves cast in supporting roles, tirelessly propping up the brilliance of others while our own light flickers in the background. It's a familiar narrative, one many of us can relate to all too well, including yours truly. But as I journeyed through my own story, I recently came to a dawning, yet inherently terrifying realization: it's time to rewrite the script and step boldly into the role of the Female Main Character that has always been within each of us.

Over the past year, I've traversed a winding road, navigating through multiple job changes and unexpected health challenges. I severely herniated a lumbar disc and suddenly found myself bedridden for six months and counting, a far cry from where I expected to be at 32. (Psst, Taekwondo, you owe me a spine! “That’s what I get for trying new things as an adult,” I’d thought.)

As a single woman in my late twenties, I often find myself torn between the allure of adventure and the comfort of stability. I am frequently dreaming up my next move halfway across the world while simultaneously envisioning a life near my family and friends with a cutie husband. The desires for both are in constant tug-of-war in my mind.

While I daydream about these two different versions of my life, I try to remain present in the life I have chosen. However, the ever-present ticking time bomb looming over me as I approach my thirties acts as a constant reminder that my life is not exactly how I envisioned it to be, and I only have so many more months left to figure out my life according to the world.