As a child, we were always subject to whatever our parents made us do. We never really had a choice on most things, nor were we ever actually making decisions on our own. We ate when food was cooked for us, bathed when our parents bathed us, went to school when we were brought to the bus stop. We were victims to those around us, and we didn’t know any better. We were small actors in a much, much bigger play. We were cast in a roll and had no choice but to play it; by living, following orders, instructions, etc. we were playing out the part.
Whether we liked it or not, we did not have the choice of choosing our character or their course of action, but we did have the choice of playing that part with dignity and positivity, or playing it with minimal joy and negativity. As children, I’d say most of us enjoyed our part, and took each decision that was handed to us with open arms, embracing it. Rolling with the punches and choosing to enjoy our childhood course of action may not have been our intentions, since we were just kids and probably did not think anything of it. But still, it’s admirable how children accept the path that is laid out for them, and live it to the fullest.
As time passes, our path is no longer laid out for us, clear and defined. Rather, many different paths spring up along the way, veering off in different directions, some nicely paved, others flooded with foliage, others a mere dirt path with a few rocks strewn along. And as these paths appear, it is not so clear to us which one we should take. No one is leading us down the right path towards a bright future and happiness. We are no longer the actors in someone else’s play. Instead, we are writing the play as we go, choosing what happens next with some level of uncertainty; whether we like it or not, we are now the writers, actors, and directors of our own lives.
Unlike when we were children, we are now given the privilege of free will. Throughout middle school, high school, and now college, we have slowly gained more exposure to this power. In middle school, we got to choose who we wanted as friends, where we wanted to sit at lunch, sports we wanted to play. Once high school rolled around, we were able to take trips to places we had never been before, and take more risks experimenting with things that had never been available to us. Now, in college, we live on our own and are responsible for making every decision that is presented to us. We have gotten to where we are now based on our own choices, and with our free will we have made all types of decisions, good and bad.
As great as free will is, I have realized that maybe not making all of our decisions for ourselves, like when we were kids, is not such a bad thing after all. Our innocent ignorance that led us blindly down paths feeling untroubled by the future was actually one of the greatest parts of being a kid. Of course it is important to have the ability to make choices and decisions for ourselves now that we're older, but sometimes not deciding something can be beneficial as well. Indecisiveness can take you down paths that you could have never brought yourself to.
Instead of intricately calculating every one of your actions and each of its consequences, don't decide on a firm course of action: just go with the flow. I don’t recommend this for all decisions, because clearly some decisions should be made with open eyes and focused minds. But sometimes it’s okay to take a leap of faith, whether by joining a group or organization you never thought you would (hint: I never thought I would be writing articles), or going on a date with someone who’s not your type, or even taking a spontaneous trip out of your comfort zone. Instead of making strict decisions based on your usual preferences and views, open your mind and let the world decide for you. Because you never know where you might end up, or better yet, how much you might like it.
