Time and life are similar in the fact that they are both unpredictable and elusive in nature. Time can move quickly when life is enjoyable, but it can also move quite slowly when we are waiting and hoping for something important. Similarly, life can be quite rewarding and unexpectedly exciting. However, it can also lead us down a sudden path of grief or struggle. Even those who are young and new to life will agree that facing obstacles is inevitable. In the same way that time cannot be contained by our fickle hopes, life also does not follow a straight and obvious path.
We all remember playing the game of hide and seek when we were young. Hide and seek is one of the oldest games in history, and it is also a collective memory that we share. The game was always exciting because regardless of whether you were hiding or seeking, there was a way for you to win or at the very least, experience a moment of exciting joy. The short periods of bided time, quiet breaths and uncomfortable positions while we hid would always be worth the result. You could always look forward to finding someone, or being found by someone in the end.
As we travel through this unpredictable journey of life, it can often feel like we are playing an endless game of hide and seek. We spend unfortunate amounts of time putting ourselves through uncomfortable situations. We knowingly force ourselves through work or education that we do not truly enjoy or feel excited about. Although we know that we do not enjoy what we are doing, we decide to push through it rather than simply choosing to do something else. We choose to hold our breath every single moment. We choose to count every day. Unfortunately, unlike hide and seek, a lot of these efforts may not always lead to eventual happiness.
We are taught from a young age that hard work always leads to a successful and happy life. However, many of us do not learn for the longest while that the direction of our efforts are just as important as their very existence. Thus, we find ourselves caught in a loop of never-ending hard work that is almost never rewarded in a way that brings us joy. The truth about hard work is that if you are working on the right thing, it would not really feel like hard work at all.
Life should not be composed of long periods of dull and draining days that may only potentially lead to happiness. Instead, we should work towards building a life where every single day is enjoyable and fulfilling. We should fill our lives with activities, work and education that we are really passionate about. Hard work and perseverance can only truly survive in a place where passion exists.
We find again and again that life is unpredictable. So, let us choose to spend the time we already have in our hands on things that bring us joy and meaningful satisfaction.
