Unfortunately, it’s the truth. I’m not ambitious.
I know that those of you who have read my life goal will
find it hard to believe.
But here is the bigger surprise: If the world ends today, I will
die as a fulfilled man. I have accomplished all I want in life. I have one life goal, and I have made it my life purpose to pursue the goal. I took extra care
to make the goal a journey and not a destination. So all I need to accomplish
it is simply to pursue it.
My life goal is not
tied to any milestone event (becoming a President or a billionaire). The goal
is simply a journey I can’t get to the end of. My English is not perfect, and my posts
testify to this. I don’t think it ever will. So how can I become perfect (fluent = perfect) in
French, German and Spanish? And more importantly, I don’t care. All I want is to keep trying. It’s like a roller-coaster, you don’t ride it
because you've got a destination in mind. You ride it to enjoy the journey. Same
with my goal. And I’m already enjoying the journey, mission accomplished.
How did I end up like this?
If you've read books written every century since 2000 BC
(omitting the centuries with no surviving books), then you’ll probably end up
like me. Only very little things matter in life. And they all are simple
things. Things you can find in every generation since God created man.
What about the other impressive stuffs: helping the less
privileged, fighting for justice and equality, and influencing one's family & the world for good?
Throughout history, the people who have successfully done
these all lived simple lives. They were true to themselves. They found their
true passion and pursued it. They filled each day with purposeful activities.
They were not spectators, observing and adjusting their
lives to suit everyone.
They were not critics, making a name from judging others.
They were not high minded, never wanting to fail at anything.
They were simple-minded, true to themselves and went after
their true passions.
If you are true to yourself, and go after
the life you truly want, you’ll always be someone’s hero. God has made us
justice loving people, kind-hearted and potential heroes. It’s the
system/society that forces us to be otherwise. But if you search deep within
yourself, you’ll discover that what you really want is in agreement with who
God has originally designed you to be. So tell me, how can you not influence
lives for good if you follow your true passion?
The world doesn't need extra-ordinary men and women; it
needs ordinary men and women who will be true to themselves and follow their
true passions. I found out that my true passion is to be feverishly creative. I
don’t want to be the best at anything, just good at a lot of things. So, I made
a matching life goal.
What's your own true passion?
I absolutely agree with your post. Life becomes much more fulfilling when we bask in the joys of the journey,because arriving at destinations quickly fills us with boredom and discontent.We soon feel hungry for more,and its this insatiable hunger in our minds that makes setting life ambitions very redundant. Life is much more a movie,and the idea is to have fun in the unfolding drama,thoroughly relish the suspense,drama,action,horror and wins and leave at the closing credits fully satisfied that the movie was a spectacular one.I think this poem called "Ithaca'' succinctly explains it.Just insert "Life" anywhere you see "Ithaca" and you will fully understand the poem. Enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen you set out for Ithaca
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.
Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaca always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaca to give you wealth.
Ithaca gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithaca mean.
Wow!
ReplyDelete"Life is much more like a movie,and the idea is to have fun in the unfolding drama; to thoroughly relish the suspense, drama, action, horror and wins; and leave at the closing credits fully satisfied that the movie was a spectacular one."
I love the way you put it!
And thanks for sharing an amazing poem. The joy and reward are truly in the journey!