Stepping into the college life, miles away from home, was an awesome experience, especially in learning about life skills, new friendships as well as tiny “take home” messages from the encounter of others’. From the archive of memories was one with my adjoining floor mates. Bitten by the “cooking bug”, which had initially started off as a dare, my friend had embarked on the mission to bring to the house, dished cooked from scratch ( nor processed, prepackages or half cooked meals). For a person of score years who hasn’t even made her own coffee, this dare was a challenge to be over-turned.
As the smells from the common kitchen happened through the odd hours of the day or wee hours of the morning, numerous recipes were attempted (many had flopped) and the cons turning more in number as compared to the “pros”, some days we had questioned if the challenge was worth it. Couple of months, when she had won laurels for the best dessert category in the “food fair”, all this trouble was worth it.
“To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one’s self…. And to venture in the highest is precisely to be conscious of one’s self.” Søren Kierkegaard
Looking back, there were more of “should you” and “do you think” than “good luck”. Yet ignoring all the voices around, the focus was on the final goal. Similar instances have happened in each of our lives. While one looks for the perfect approval from others, time runs it’s own course and own choices go unfulfilled. For those who do accomplish their dreams, one discovers that they never paid full to the voices around them alone. Some did hear them, but never listened. Others listened but never retained or dissected them. Few did pay attention, decided if it was worth further regard and if not, just went ahead with their own dreams.
“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” C. H. Spurgeon
No one needs an acknowledgement or recommendation to follow own choices. If one really wants to do it, go ahead and reach for it. None of us need a stamp for the green light from others, especially for our shaping own thoughts, ideas and plans. Unless one believes in own self, knowing own dreams and strengths; what we want to truly do will never be done. So charge ahead and seek that dream that makes each of us happy and at peace and content form within.
An Ocean of Angst
by Don Wells
It seems like we live in an ocean of angst
telling us we shouldn’t, we dare not, we can’t
we can find so many ways in which we can fail
that we just spin in circles, chasing our tail
And listening to strangers’ whispers of doubt
but ignoring the voices of friends that shout out
“yes! you can do it! we believe in you”
and deep down in your heart you know it is true
Because you see people, simple and plain,
accomplishing miracles every day
they are the dreamers, the crackpots, the few
but they’re not any more special than you
We all have great dreams within our grasp
but to make them a reality we need to ask
will you succeed if you try your best?
the answer, of course, is a resounding yes!
Because every time you try to excel
whether you succeed or, more likely, fail
each attempt you make is a single push up
not much by itself, but they eventually add up
And even if you find that you’re dream has departed
you’ll find that you’re stronger than when you started
so pick a new dream and keep trying again
and success is bound to be yours in the end
Sugar And Spice... Among Other Things 