a Little Light

Note: For obvious reasons, this will NOT be in the Evergreen. This is strictly for fun and for ranting.

Life is essentially a series of decisions.

And the majority of decisions break down into a fork in the road.

One road is comfortable, safe and predictable. This road will generally lead you to contentment and security. This road is the guarantee which won’t let you down. But this road also tends to be mediocre and monotonous. It’s typically a path that doesn’t challenge you or allow for personal development on various levels.

The other road is usually one of excitement, unpredictability and of much greater reward. Although it may contain more challenges, a successful journey will bring forth a much higher level of satisfaction, joy and personal growth. But this road is risky and will require a step out of your comfort zone. You don’t even know if you will make it down this path successfully, but it interests you because of the potential benefits in the future.

While there are certain paths which are simultaneously safe and rewarding, there really is no decision involved in pursuing it. It’s a no brainer. So fundamentally, decisions boil down to the comfortable and predictable versus the uncertain but potentially gratifying.

Should I go to Manoa for my education, or try a school on the mainland? Should I just go on the computer in my room, or go check out the club meeting/seminar tonight? Should I even bother applying to the internship which requires essays and recommendations, or just stick with my decent job from last summer? Should I just stick with this significant other who really likes me and is nice to me, or go for the one which I feel challenges me, intrigues me and could potentially complete me better? Should I stick to sleeping in Sunday mornings, or go and check out a church like my parents and/or friends encourage me to?

These are just a sample of predicaments an individual may find themselves in.

I believe that there is no such thing as a wrong decision. There are certain choices better than others, but none which is wrong. Furthermore, I feel that once a choice has been made, it is pointless and unproductive to second guess or regret the decision. Playing the “what if” game only leads to disappointment and frustration. While society has many views on these ideas, there is no correct mindset. Phrases such as “Go Big or Go Home” push the idea of taking risks for big gains, while others such as “a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush” encourage settling and appreciating the guarantees in your life.

In my opinion, a culmination of decisions based around a certain moral tendency to lean in a particular manner is what determines your success in life. While every choice must be calculated and evaluated carefully, the bottom line is that you must take risks to be successful. Everyone will fail, but some will experience a greater amount of success when taking risks than others – an inevitable characteristic which pushes the idea that luck and chance plays a large role in determining your triumphs in life.

Life is not about the number of breaths you take, but the number of moments which take your breath away. The amount of significant and monumental moments experienced is directly correlated with the number of risks you take. After all, you can’t experience something breathtaking if you’re comfortable and safe.

In conclusion, I encourage you to not only think outside of the box, but to step out of it. Try new things, experience new environments, embrace new challenges and built new relationships. Even if you have trust issues, the only way to really trust someone is to, well, trust them.

It’s your decisions. It’s your life. Viva la Vida – Live your Life.