The POWER of your own PATH

I am always amazed with where I am today. It’s not that I never truly thought I would arrive where I am. It’s just that I have had such a wild ride getting here.

I recently was a guest on a Virtual Q&A for John Marshall School of Law. And one of the things that I stressed was the average person’s life path is more like ‘country back roads’ as opposed to ‘the interstate’. What I mean when I say this is that there are only a few of us who truly know what we want to do with our life at a young age and exercise the discipline to make it happen.

I have a few friends who literally went from HS to College to Professional School (Law school, Dental School, Medical School) and then into their chosen profession. In my mind, those people are the exception and not the norm.

The vast majority of us will probably change careers several times during the course of our professional life. Imagine starting your career aspiring to be a corporate executive and finding your passion as a dance instructor. Imagine starting your career aspiring to be a ballerina and finding your passion owning your business.

And the best part is that there is NOTHING wrong with making those turns. In the time it took for me to become a judge, I was a telemarketer, a summer Resident Advisor, an Army Reserve Officer, a Safety and Health Specialist, an active duty Navy Officer, a choreographer, a law associate, a podcaster, a YouTuber, a blogger, an adjunct instructor and a business owner. And somehow, in the midst of that melee, I went to grad school and law school.

The hardest part about making these turns is that we are often convinced that our decision to make these turns means we are indecisive. It means we lack vision or focus. It means we have wasted our time and our talent.

All of those things are TOTALLY wrong. The reality is that as we age, we discover something new about ourselves. We realize the 20 year old you is not as interesting as the 30 year old you. We realize that we are no longer passionate about what we are currently doing and we would like to see what we can do next.

So when you find yourself questioning your path, take a moment to embrace the power of the uniqueness of your path and enjoy all of the power that comes with it.

Comments

Why I’m Not Trying to Make New Friends After 40 (And Why That’s Okay)

Intro: We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m not trying to make new friends.” On the surface, it can sound antisocial or dismissive. But if you’re in your 40s or beyond, that phrase starts to carry a whole new weight. It’s not about shutting people out—it’s about recognizing the power of relationships that have been built over decades. Listen to the Full Podcast Below: Listen to "Friends After 40: Why Your Circle Shrinks But Grows Deep" on Spreaker. Friends from the Beginning of Adulthood Friendships you start in your teens or early 20s come with a different energy. These are the people who were there during your first job, first apartment, first heartbreak, first real success. They were becoming adults alongside you. By the time you reach 40, something strange and powerful happens: You’ve now known those friends longer than you haven’t. That changes everything. Why Foundational Friendships Hit Different at 40+ Friendships at this stage aren’t casual. They’ve survive...

The Crossroad Before Confidence: How Struggling Through College Taught Me More Than Grades Ever Could

When people talk about college, they often focus on the success story — the dream school, the scholarships, the 4.0 GPA. That wasn’t my story. I didn’t attend the University of Tampa because it was my first choice. I went there because I wanted to prove something — to a high school professor who didn’t think much of me. I turned down opportunities that made more financial sense, including a potential ROTC scholarship, for a private school that offered me just a small leadership grant. I told myself I’d make it work. What I didn’t realize then was that this wasn’t just a college experience. It was the first crossroad in my life — the one that taught me how to keep moving even when confidence was nowhere in sight. Surviving, Not Thriving When I got to campus, my finances were a patchwork of faith and luck — a Pell Grant, a leadership award, and a loan co-signed by my grandmother. I didn’t have backup. I didn’t have a plan. By the end of my first semester, I was already debating whe...

The Danger wasn’t always clear: Navigating Racism as Black Generation X

On July 16, 2025, I posted a video short titled “Black Generation X: The Danger Wasn’t Always Clear.” That post came from a deeply personal place. Growing up as part of Generation X meant stepping into environments where the rules around race and safety weren’t always obvious. When I was younger, my family shielded me from the harshest realities. I lived in communities where I was nurtured and protected. I was also part of the first wave of kids who went from kindergarten through high school entirely in desegregated schools. In that space, I don’t recall any overt instances of racism or bigotry. And while that was a blessing, it also left me unprepared—because I didn’t know what danger looked like when it wasn’t wearing a hood or shouting slurs. Once I left home, the uncertainty began. The Barber Who “Couldn’t” \When I arrived at the University of Tampa in the fall of 1987, I needed a haircut before starting ROTC training. I had just completed Army training that summer, so I was ...

The Anthony Reeves Experience

Search This Blog