Umpteen movies and series attempted to scrutinize time traveling, lucid dreaming, aging panaceas, theories of simulation and the list goes on.
However, none of these turned out to be "earthly" feasible yet!
We are prone to perfection. We want to live a life free from mistakes, which is quite humanly legitimate so to speak. Regret seems to be the harbinger of our most devastating life moments. Therefore, in movies, the main character is agonizing to go back in time in quest of an alternate better reality!
As I get older, I tend to pose these questions to myself:
What really counts in life?
Am I currently underaccomplished?
Am I balancing well happiness and sadness or am I sunk in the latter?
Am I going to die being unnoticed or could I leave a legacy behind?
Now let's dive into these questions one by one :
What really counts in life?
It's all up to you to define it. It can be a success, fortune, self-satisfaction or It can take a global definition like Nelson Mandela once said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Henceforth, what really counts in life is your social impact on others and how good you were at helping people succeed!
Am I currently underaccomplished?
You set your goals and your own standards! There is no need to compare yourself with others! Everyone has their own time to shine, It may take a while but by the end, that flame will finally be ignited!
Don't get too harsh on yourself!
Henry Ford established his first car model at the age of 45!
Stan Lee created his first comic book at the age of 39!
Ray Kroc, the founder of Mcdonalds, started his franchise when he was 52!
Harry Bernstein wrote and published his first book when he was 96! He even said: "My 90s were the most productive years of my life"
Believe in yourself, work hard and hard work pays off, period!
Am I balancing well happiness and sadness or am I sunk in the latter?
As human beings, we tend to get sentimental quite often by the slightest changes and even the trivial detours in our lives. From experience, It's quite easier to be sad rather than happy and It's quite addictive too! It's quite easy to complain rather than to be grateful for the privileges we have.
I'd say sometimes "Ignorance is bliss" for what overthinking can exacerbate in us!
Am I going to die being unnoticed or could I leave a legacy behind?
Many of us conceive that only the special ones among us can leave a legacy.
In fact, anyone can leave his own form of legacy. It can be a quote that people will always reminisce about, works of prose or poetry that will attract readers or even a tutorial you shared online!
Nowadays, sharing thoughts and knowledge is easier than ever!
So, we might want to take a shot at leaving our own legacy!
Very insightful! We don't want to worry if we haven't reached greatness yet, but we don't want to wait until it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Henry Ford developed his first car at age 45! That is so young
ReplyDeleteAs long as we look after our family, be kind to others and always try to help I think we can say we've done a good job!
ReplyDeleteWell, I would not call them a wake up call. I rather look back on the past year. I wonder how it will be when I look back at 2020....
ReplyDeleteI think I’ve asked myself some questions from your list. But it all comes to balance, in the end, I think.
ReplyDeleteI think of them as another year to live not a wake up call!
ReplyDeleteEveryone's definition of success and legacy is different. Only you can tell if you've accomplished your goals. Birthdays can be a time of reflection, just like New Year's.
ReplyDeleteI just celebrated my birthday recently and I’m wishing myself happy birthday and enjoying the uncertainty and the journey ahead. 2020 has taught me how to live in the present.
ReplyDeleteI think they can be once in a while. My 30th birthday was awake up call.
ReplyDeleteI have not thought of my birthday could be a wake up call to me, this sharing of yours just like a reminder to me, thanks! cheers, siennylovesdrawing
ReplyDeleteSo much comes to mind when getting one year older, I found myself dissecting myself in this very way and it pushed me to go back to school
ReplyDeleteActually I've never in my life celebrated a birthday. Sometimes only the media and banks remind me through messages that it's my birthday. But I go with the Mandela's quote. Changing other's lives for the better should define our success.
ReplyDeleteI totally need this right now because I feel the pressure as of the moment my birthday will be on next month but I feel that I don't have a great achievement at all. Thanks to this! <3
ReplyDeleteI've always seen birthdays as something personal. They trigger you to reflect on where you are and where you'd like to be.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it does. I always set up news goals and give myself timeline every year.
ReplyDeleteVery thought provoking post. I believe that as we age our perspective changes and we find out what truly matters in life.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting post. Birthdays used to be a big affair when I was younger, now it has become just a personal thing.
ReplyDeleteI usually experience birthday blues, but as long as I'm happy to what I've been and I'm still alive I'm good and fulfilled already.
ReplyDelete