Rational Life Plan
20 March 2026
Most people hold firm values, but few can clearly name or express them with conviction. Creativity is especially important to me; as a writer, I connect deeply with imagination, daydreaming, and making up fictitious scenarios in my head before I fall asleep. That may sound a bit eccentric to people who don’t value creativity, but it’s something that gives me a sense of grounding when the world gets too loud. Since I write frequently, it’s only natural that I also read exorbitantly. Intelligence is another one of my core values. I believe having knowledge across a plethora of subjects makes me a well-rounded person with more empathy and insight. What terrifies me about today’s society is that literacy in the United States is declining at an alarming rate. Not only is academic intelligence important, but reading also helps with emotional understanding—which is something missing in the present age of convenient technology.
Similarly, my grades are very important to me. For most of my life, grades have been a huge part of my self-worth. Whether or not that’s healthy is up for debate, but nonetheless I work hard to keep my 4.0 GPA exactly where it is. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right. The people I’m close to have never pressured me into keeping my grades high, but it’s what they implicitly expect of me. So, in that vein, I would feel awful if I let them down. The people I love—through both blood and choice—are of exceptional value to me. Surrounding myself with loved ones helps me keep my feet on the ground in a way that’s beneficial to me. Love shines brightest around chosen friends and family. They also call out when my behavior becomes avoidant or when I’m too hard on myself. They regard me with enough esteem to express concern, but are also aware that ultimately I have autonomy.
Across all forms of relationships, I tend to be highly aware of the way people treat one another. Respect is another core value of mine. I believe dignity and consideration are essential for building healthy, meaningful bonds in familial, platonic, and romantic relationships. Ultimately, respect is the foundation that allows all my other values to exist in a significant way. Each of my values don’t just define what I care about—they also influence how I make decisions, who I trust, and the kind of future I want to build.
I see my future as quiet, but that can only happen once I heal emotionally. I’ve already taken a few small steps toward that. Journaling helps me reflect on my day and how I’m feeling. Openly discussing my emotions is very difficult for me, but I’ve gotten a bit better at doing that with people I trust and love. Nature can be very cathartic as well—whenever I find myself distressed, I gravitate toward water (lakes, beaches, waterfronts, etc.). Healing is not easy and is often a lifelong process, but it is the first step toward the future I envision. After I’ve healed a significant amount, I’d like to become a traditionally published author. Last spring, I self-published a high fantasy novel, but now I’d like to dip my toes into the traditional literary world to expand my readership. I’ve already started querying literary agents, so I need to continue that process. I also need to continually work on improving my writing skills—there’s always room for growth. A fully polished manuscript will make this goal more attainable. What I self-published is good, but it’s not great, and I want to strive for perfection—at least in my own eyes. Once I land a literary agent, the next step would be working toward a book deal, which can be a competitive and lengthy process.
When that eventually happens, I’ll pursue my goal of living in the English countryside. I’m well aware that all of this might seem too ambitious, but I’m nothing if not stubborn. I’ve always admired the culture, art, and history of England, and the anticipation I feel to travel there is immense. To firmly decide whether I want to live there, I would need to work extra hours and budget for a trip. Ideally, I’d travel there a few times before deciding it’s truly where I want to live—though something tells me I’ll love it the moment I step foot on English soil. Studying the political landscape of the United Kingdom would also benefit me, considering how important politics are to me.
Ultimately, it would be a dream to run an independent bookstore in London. I’ve already started thinking about this in a general sense, and I’ve asked a close friend of mine if she would be interested in helping me. She’s agreed, and it works out since she’s also drawn to the idea of living in the British Isles. This is a goal that requires a pragmatic approach: I would need to budget responsibly and apply for any necessary licenses. As a final, and least important, goal of mine, I’d like to find someone who will celebrate my success with me. There isn’t much I can actively do in this area—but I can either wait until I find the right person or make more of an effort to go out. I tend to be fairly reclusive, so being out in public isn’t ideal for me—but if I truly want this, I’ll eventually find the motivation to do so. It’s not nearly as important as my other goals, so if I don’t find a companion, I know my life will still be quiet and deeply rewarding.
After reflecting on my rational life plan, I recognize that it may seem too ambitious. However, I see it as a clear vision rather than an unrealistic expectation. I want this life—I have always yearned for a quiet one, and this is one way for me to reach it. I not only feel that this is right for me, but I can see it: sitting at a desk that overlooks the Lake District, my manuscript in front of me and a cup of tea at my side. It may sound unreachable, but I’m determined to make it reachable.