A few days ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook home page, skimming through countless Donald vs. Hillary posts and mouth-watering recipe videos, when I came across this YouTube video that a friend had shared. The title caught my eye and I decided to press play. If you haven't yet seen this video, I suggest clicking the play button above before you continue reading.
Before I get into my reaction to this video, let me tell you something: I'm a sucker for motivational speeches and sappy inspirational videos. If I leave Facebook open for too long, I'll end up sobbing over videos of amputees learning to walk again and abused dogs that found a loving home. There's just nothing better than seeing some beautiful stories and having your faith restored in humanity via Facebook homepage.
That being said, I think this video is on another level. It really hit home for me and I felt the need to share my reaction to it.
Prince EA, the speaker in this video, is an American spoken word artist, poet, rapper and filmmaker. His words, paired with incredible cinematography and flawless film editing, create a very powerful and meaningful message. He doesn't preach about this message in a stereotypical fashion. He uses beautiful spoken word to inspire his audience to grab a hold of their dreams and pursue them with every ounce of their being.
I've always found myself at a bit of a loss when people ask me what I'm most passionate about. But I don't think it is because I lack ambition. I believe it's because I haven't yet found the courage to truly pursue what I love. Thus far, I've lived my life as a "kinda" person. I see my peers traveling on study-abroad trips and landing incredible internships and I often think to myself, "Why can't I do that?" However, that question is absurd. It is not a matter of can or cannot. The better question I should be asking myself is "Why haven't I done that yet?"
So I would like to raise a toast. Cheers to the risk takers who have found their calling in life and have let it consume them. Cheers to those who work tirelessly to turn their dreams into a reality. Cheers to the people who haven't quite started their journeys but are fed up with the mediocrity of a meaningless life. As Prince EA says, we all have a part to play in this song. If you're looking for a sign to apply for that internship, or to plan a backpacking trip across Europe, or to take the salsa lessons that you've been dying to take for years, this is it. If you're looking for a sign to take that leap of faith and change your life, this is it.
Starting today, I will stop letting life pass me by and start actively living it. I know that it won't be easy, but I know it'll be worth it.
