"We are all born in to the departure lounge." Dark yet powerful, this phrase acts as the catalyst for the way I live my life today. All of us are given the same 24 hours in the day, but it's those who's make an impact that leave a mark on this planet many years after they have passed on. This goodness cannot be measured by the length of our years, but how we live those years. This goodness is not about what we amass, but what we give, it is not having more, being more, for in the end, our lives are not judged by the houses, cars, portfolios or businesses that we built, but the the lives we touched and how we inspired through what we developed.
Every person has been created to make a difference but don't know how to identify it. 'What is life all about?' At one time or another, all of us wrestle with this challenge. Having no clear answer we tend to dismiss this and continue to define our lives through metaphors such as "You must play the hand your dealt" or "Life is a game and you have to know how to play it". We embrace these metaphors because, as facile as they may be, in essence they do appear to represent our reality.
If we believe our life represents such metaphors, we just become a pawn in a world that lacks any reason, where actions are simply beyond our control. Unable to shape our destiny, it is easy to become displeased, cynical or bitter. With this, we come to conclude "It is what it is". So we either succumb to hopelessness and despondency, or we go to the other extreme and live it to the full in an orgy of self indulgence. Neither options seem terribly fantastic.
For those who believe life is a marathon, the only thing that really counts is coming in first. They keep running - they cannot stop, and if in the process they break down those walls that stand in they're way, so be it - it's justified. After all life is a marathon.
Then there are those who view life as a game, and to them, the end goal is fun. The main thing is to have a good time. They seek one form of entertainment after another - entire industries have been created to indulge them in their quest. From movies to sports, to the latest in computer games, there are myriad distractions guaranteed to numb and anaesthetise their hearts and minds. There was a time, in the not-too-distant past, when people took walks to clear their heads, to reflect upon their lives, but such introspective moments are relics to the past. Today, when people walk and jog, mobiles accompany them - all filtering out reality. One cannot help but wonder what would happen if the WiFi, all cinemas, television stations, sport stadiums, computers were shut down for one day. How would those fare? Would they fall apart? For those to whom life is a game, distractions become a necessity - tools which they can use to escape the challenges of reality.
So what is life? From the moment we are born, to the moment we take our last breath, we are tested. In essence, everything is a test, and as we absorb this it will become easier to bear the many challenges and trials that we face. These tests reflect the genuineness of our commitment, the depth or our passion to succeed and a huge measure of our character. Obsessions is the only option, be a big thinker, a big dreamer. Everyone has the potential to succeed, but it's those who take actions on that gnawing desire to to be great who reap the rewards.
Society has brought us all to think small. To trade our dreams for what is comfortable. Understandably our dreams appear to be our frustrations. We are told by our friends, family, peers that dreams are unattainable. Only you are responsible for your success and only you can settle for less. At the end of the day, people around you may feel sympathetic towards you, but no one has the capacity to help you when you don't make it. Being obsessed drives you to get you where you want to be to make a difference. Obsession is mandatory to accomplish your goals. So, when challenging days confront us, when trials and tribulations overwhelm us, instead of sinking into despair, let us ask ourselves "What is the lesson I can learn from this?" Above all, let us remember that that which we are experiencing are tests, tests that we can pass.
If you can do it, you must do it.