When I was a kid, I used to love the Snake & Ladder board game. It was exciting when you’ve climbed the many boxes upwards and landing on a ladder to take you up a few notches. Of course no one likes to have to land where a big, long snake is waiting to bring you all the way to the bottom and starting over again.
Isn’t that what we have grown up to be? Our lives is really about waiting for a chance to land at the ladder and dodging the snakes that lead to rock bottom. To stay on top of the game, many of us have learned to work hard and to do all it takes. And through this “Monkey See, Monkey Do” behaviour, we all emulate each other through generations. So much so that some of us may not even realise why we are doing what we’re doing.
People work because we need the money to survive. The higher the rank, the more money you earn and the better life should be. People get married because it is a norm in society. People have children because every married couple should have children. Nowadays children must go for tuition because it is the only way to beat the neighbour’s children. Almost every Tom, Dick and Harry get a degree today because it is the only way to secure a job. The story continues in the same cycle. And that, my friend, is what we call Life.
So when or what is the trigger that makes one make a life changing decision? Is it an unexpected incident that changes the way you think and make you realise what you really want out of life? Is it a near-death moment that clears your vision and bring out the heart’s true desire? Is it a long harboured passion that never got to see the sunshine? Is it when God has had enough of your blindness and decides to slap you on the head one day and all of a sudden, your life’s goals seem clear? Is it when you have lost what you consider to be everything and there’s nothing more to lose?
Whatever the moment is, it is moment of truth. But whether we take heed of that moment of truth is yet another story. Today, I had one such moment. In that very moment, I knew what exactly I wanted to do. For that brief moment, I felt peace and clarity in my heart. But when I said “brief”, I really meant brief. It was gone the moment the mind started applying thoughts to it. The human mind is conditioned to think of consequences and more often than not, they are negative and become natural barriers.
When the picture is painted with consequences, the moment of truth dies. The fear of failure and uncertainties far outweigh everything that you want. Through our much calculated risks and actions, we stay put where we are and bury the “want” six feet under. And then we call that buried thing our Dream. Don’t we paint a nice story to kid ourselves and others?
It takes a very brave person to bite the bullet to be true to himself.
Isn’t that what we have grown up to be? Our lives is really about waiting for a chance to land at the ladder and dodging the snakes that lead to rock bottom. To stay on top of the game, many of us have learned to work hard and to do all it takes. And through this “Monkey See, Monkey Do” behaviour, we all emulate each other through generations. So much so that some of us may not even realise why we are doing what we’re doing.
People work because we need the money to survive. The higher the rank, the more money you earn and the better life should be. People get married because it is a norm in society. People have children because every married couple should have children. Nowadays children must go for tuition because it is the only way to beat the neighbour’s children. Almost every Tom, Dick and Harry get a degree today because it is the only way to secure a job. The story continues in the same cycle. And that, my friend, is what we call Life.
So when or what is the trigger that makes one make a life changing decision? Is it an unexpected incident that changes the way you think and make you realise what you really want out of life? Is it a near-death moment that clears your vision and bring out the heart’s true desire? Is it a long harboured passion that never got to see the sunshine? Is it when God has had enough of your blindness and decides to slap you on the head one day and all of a sudden, your life’s goals seem clear? Is it when you have lost what you consider to be everything and there’s nothing more to lose?
Whatever the moment is, it is moment of truth. But whether we take heed of that moment of truth is yet another story. Today, I had one such moment. In that very moment, I knew what exactly I wanted to do. For that brief moment, I felt peace and clarity in my heart. But when I said “brief”, I really meant brief. It was gone the moment the mind started applying thoughts to it. The human mind is conditioned to think of consequences and more often than not, they are negative and become natural barriers.
When the picture is painted with consequences, the moment of truth dies. The fear of failure and uncertainties far outweigh everything that you want. Through our much calculated risks and actions, we stay put where we are and bury the “want” six feet under. And then we call that buried thing our Dream. Don’t we paint a nice story to kid ourselves and others?
It takes a very brave person to bite the bullet to be true to himself.
4 comments:
hmmm ... confusing topic. but for the average joe, this would be easier to understand : "the meaning of life is that life does not have a meaning".
so anything you do, or any decision you make, has no meaning ;D
on a bit of a roller coaster mood today. that's why i'm on a yadda yadda yadda...meaning or no meaning, makes no meaning. haha.
Thank you. I needed to read something like this. Ever since I've lost her, I'm looking for some form of visuals that will motivate me to move forwards. =)
Thank you. I feel better today than yesterday.
You know, I don't think you watch anime. But there were these two fictatious characters on it. One a man. One a boy. The boy was brought up in an abusive foster family; he is weak. This boy met the man one fateful night. This was the man's words to the boy, "The strong survive, and the weak perish" Of course, those lines are nothing more than a creative thought written for a storyboard. Yet I ponder, is that somehow happening in our reality as well?
Excellent entry Eternity. =)
stargazer, i think my most peaceful moments are when i'm asleep. then, the dreams come in the "real" form? :P
jiro, glad you feel better and thanks for that insight from the anime. could be a strong line of motivation to others.
Post a Comment