I had a chat with a friend recently. And this was what he typed.
XXX says:
me?
i dunno la..
i dunno wad i wan from this life
its like.. i work previously, i m nt happy...
i work now, i m also not happy...
and i wanna do business... not sufficient fund
and the fear of risking everything...
because i haf too much to risk
so now i m stuck in the middle of no where. not knowing wad is best for me to do rite now
I thought to myself at that point:
He's 25. He just graduated few years ago. He has two jobs since, neither of which he's happy with. He seems to have a stable CV. Average income according to him.
So...
What does he has to risk?
His job? He's not happy in it in the first place.
His income? Not that it's very satisfying at the moment.
Youth? COME ON, 25? As a man?
That's the thing. Many of us walk down this path, because we think that if we were to take the step we always dare to dream of taking, we will forever be dreaming of that what-if.
So money might be an issue. But money only provides stability, life is not about stability, life is risky, being alive is an adventure. Some of us have gone through so much shit in life that when we look back, life isn't life if it's as easy as waking up and falling asleep everyday.
Life is life, because it is uncertain, and we build our certainty on these uncertainties, but we don't stay there, we build more, and more, and so much more till we realise that, well... so this is life.
So what we screw up, hey you want to talk a path that's so straight and boring and wide? Take a hike! Up the mountain, down the muddy puddle, when you fall, there's always a big fat concrete road next to you where you can fall back on.
You experience is your concrete road, and getting back into the workforce is always the basic of all basics. Whenever you want to take a break, go for it. No one said there's an dateline to which you have to reach your goal.
Take your time, an easy stroll, a detour down the flower garden. Enjoy, relax, rejuvenate, then come back.
Life isn't about rationality, since when have you heard people loving rationally? Living a life is like falling in love. Be ready to get hurt, to fall, then to get back up and back in the game, it's that never-ending pursuit, till you find the one, the perfect one, or close to perfection. Why settle for someone you half love, when you know someone out there somehow sometime in the future will show up, whom will sweep you off your feet and blow you away.
You don't just sit there and think that you are satisfied just because you are afraid of getting hurt, that is not love! nor life! Do yourself a favour, do your heart (and your partner's) a favour, and get out there and trip!
I have been contemplating so much in my life what I should do or what I shouldn't do. And I know I worry too much, that everything will just turn out in the end the way they should always do. Why worry, when I can pursue, when I have the choice to pursue. How many out there are not blessed with a choice, what insane mind I have to even think I should be taking so many steps back when I have the choice to take a step forward.
The conversation strikes me. What have I got to lose?
Realistically, what in life that can be so tragically important or life-threatening that I cannot afford risking/losing?
Many elements in life are deem as a "risk" because we are so defined by society's stringent expectations. Achieve young, stable income, retire early, own properties, be insured, etc.
So yes there are always limitations, there's always financial security as one ages, commitment and responsibilities. But, at the same time, there is always a choice. And reasoning with yourself is the first thing that would stop you from taking every step ahead. Balance, priority, and choice.
Just ask yourself: "Why not...", "How I can...", "oh what the hell...".
Remember, it's always a choice.
