Adventures of a Lifetime
Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be experienced. It has not been a bed of roses, nor a string of breaks and blessings, nor a journey on the road full of signs warning of pot holes, pitfalls and unclear directions to unknown destinations.
Growing up is a series of experiments, of wandering without purpose among strangers acting as family or enemies, of learning subjects later found to be completely useless for real life, of working in underpaid jobs that feel unimportant, of being fooled by man made beliefs, customs, and faiths that make empty promises of a better future, and of making our way through thick forests of natural forces and those who mix ideas of truths, half truths, lies, and half lies.
Let us embrace our uniqueness rather than draw comparisons. Each of us is born different — in appearance, backgrounds, talents, and tastes. Comparing ourselves to others overlooks this richness. Instead of trying to outshine everyone, we should focus on what we have to offer. Recognising and respecting diversity means highlighting our own strengths and unique characteristics, personality, skills or styles. Authenticity outvalues competition; honoring our individuality helps us see our true measure of our worth.
True family goes beyond blood. We don’t choose our birth relatives, yet love and support often come from unexpected people. “Family” are those who stand by us with care, understanding, and kindness, regardless of DNA. Friends, teachers, and even strangers can show deeper understanding than some family members. Reasonably, it is all the more necessary for us to reach out, offer compassion, and welcome anyone who uplifts us into our circle of belonging.
Modern advertisements everywhere sell happiness and better self-esteem. Born as the most beautiful baby, we are gradually conditioned to feel our imperfections — too short, too fat, too thin, ears of different sizes, eyes not at the same level — simply too wrong in everything — so that plentiful products and services are ready for us that claim to “fix” us! Have you ever wondered why, while born an Original, so many are spending so much time and money to become imitations of some famous actors, handsome persons, beauty queens or movie stars they admire? So many people spend much of their life looking for happiness, for someone to love, to be loved and to be accepted for what they truly are. However, true happiness is rooted in the passion of living, in efforts to create joyful moments in a child or others, and in the resulting meaning, purpose and great satisfaction when creating happy moments and joyful events which bring out happy responses in others.
Every step in life’s adventure teaches us something, whether it is learning, relearning or unlearning, which leads us toward growth, authenticity, meaningful connections, and lasting joy.