How do you envision the world?
Most adults would say that our planet's ending point is the line where the sky meets the sea. As an innocent kid years ago, I tended to believe those words, and looking at the sea became different as I would always associate it with the excitement of knowing that it was the earth's ending point. How cool could that be!
But as I grew older, facts have been the one thing I rely on to gain information and knowledge, and science articles state that the earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning, its two opposite sides are of different sizes, however, we still associate it to being "round". If we compare it with life it would probably be mentioned in the same wavelength as the famous phrase, "Life is like a wheel, sometimes you’re at the top, and sometimes below". We all have our wheels in life wherein at most times we succeed and sometimes taste defeat. But given that it is a cycle, a circle of life as they say, and just like Earth, we all are revolving on our axis, our own pace in this race called life and that phenomenon is an opportunity, an open door perhaps for us to grow from our roots, and to cultivate values that will eventually help us flourish into something new we never knew we might be of becoming.
The world is big yet so small.
How ironic could that be, big enough to accommodate seven continents, big enough to house different species, in different ecosystems, and adapt to different environments? However, we still fight for our assets, we brawl with resources. You see, the world is surely big, but it seems to be giving small opportunities for each one of us to grow, like a big circle with no sides and edges we kept on circling, wandering where we might be going.
But taking risks to achieve triumph despite the uncertainties is what makes us big in a world where we feel small. Big enough for everyone to see and know that perseverance and hard work will take us far enough to conquer the skies.
At least that's what I believe, do you also?
Time is the greatest enemy.
Everything seems so fast-paced now, it feels like each one of us is desperate for something we should be having at this moment in this very lifetime, and it’s somehow frustrating to be stuck in a situation where we feel it’s a hindrance to that goal. I mentioned my opinion on how ironically the world seems too big scientifically but remains small, and I would like to add that what makes it feel so small is time. You see, we have 24 hours a day to be able to fulfill or do what we want for ourselves and the people around us, but it’s not enough, it was never enough in the first place.
Torturing yourself from school and work, shedding blood, sweat, and tears but still underpaid and discriminated resulting in no progress at all. Then, suddenly, you remember that you are not aging backward and that you have to be at some point in your life that would make you proud.
Indeed, such a small world for people with big dreams. Such a small world for you who want to be a great leader of a great nation someday. Such a small world for you to be one of the most renowned artists. Such a small world, with limited opportunities at chosen times.
Despite these uncertainties, I do hope we all end up standing ashore looking at the line where the sky meets the sea reminiscing on the days when we rode the waves of life.
I believe you can row it just very well. One paddle at a time, my friend.