Is it possible that we’ve been lied to? What if success doesn’t reside within the constraints of a stable nine to five job? What if success lies within the momentary happiness of a genuine connection?This may be my radical college mind romanticizing the innate randomness of reality, but for my sake please just bear with me. Why do we do the things that we do? Think about this question for a moment, if you will.
From what I’ve gathered in my twenty two year old life, the primary reason is: so that we can simply live. So that we can maintain a comfortable life, and possibly even have a little fun on the weekends. And if this is what makes some people completely happy, good, I envy them like the desolate moon envies the radiant sun. I say this because I am not content with this life, but I strongly believe that most people are with me. I am terrified of regrets, and living a life that summons them.
My greatest argument against a life of comfortable routine is the impending conclusion. There has never been a flame on this planet immune to the breath of time. Every human to experience the miracle of birth must also inevitably cease to be. Youth is fleeting, and so is life. It’s nearly impossible for the beauty of youth comprehend a grey wrinkled future, even though it is a certainty.
This may seem dark, but without darkness how could one experience light? Because of the monumentally minute amount of time humanity is given on this earth, it would be blasphemous to do anything other than scream and dance and smile. When you die, will you be happy with a life of compromise? Happy you followed the rules and stayed comfortable? Or would you rather look back on a monumental, indescribable, beautiful, pain soaked, but perfect lifetime of imperfections?
Now I’m not advocating that you live a life without morals, or character, or reason, for I believe that would lead to a life even more unfulfilled than the life of docile subservience. I’m simply trying to say that I believe doing anything aside from what you love is a mistake. Doing what you love will make you an immensely happy person, and happiness seems to be contagious.
Do what makes you feel complete, so when the grim reaper ascends from his invisible dwelling that you mat greet him with a smile.
Make a positive impact on the world, but don’t worry about pleasing anybody. It’s amazing how much helping another person may actually help yourself.
Be the person you want to be, not the person you think you can be.
“Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss you’ll land among the stars,” and you deserve the stars my friend.
I’ll leave you with the two words that motivate me above all others:
Why not?
