How to lead a valuable life..

Change. A word of Latin origin meaning to transform or convert and is as stated by Heraclitus “the only constant”. Change is the infinite in our finite lives. The rollercoaster we call life doesn’t stop for anyone; it keeps going up and down, the ride changes and the experience is subjective. 

You must remember when you were little, how you used to think that you were tiny kind of like tinker bell in a city of giants. At least I do, I remember always wanting to grow up, to be able to go up the stairs without stumbling and being able to reach higher shelves. Such simple things for which children depend on someone else. 

Getting into teenage years you feel pressured from all possible sides, you can’t wait until you earn your independence, until you have a job and a say as to how you’ll spend your life. It looks like your teenage years will last forever. The countless times of saying “When I’m older, I’ll decide for myself and no one will be able to make me obey them, I’ll be free”. You await that freedom.

Graduating from university seems like a dream come true, you’ve finally built your character and thoughts and are ready to face the world. You get a job and soon realize that your life will remain the same over the course of the following years.
During Adulthood you have long working hours, no summer vacation to look forward to, more stress and less fun. You are still obliged to obey, you just obey different people than the ones you used to obey as an adolescent.

Reality hits you in the face. This wasn’t what you expected. Where was the independence you desired? You look back and regret always having wanted to jump from one stage to the next. 

On a daily basis nothing seemed different but looking at old photos you recognize the dissimilarity.


 

You make sure to tell the new generation that their childhood years are the best years they’ll ever have. It’s a pity that human nature only allows us to learn through our own experiences, not those of others. But the question that has been on my mind is why? Why don’t we live each stage fully? Why are we is such a rush, constantly wanting to modify our lives? Since change is inevitable and will happen regardless of what we think, why not embrace it?


 

We should start appreciating every single stage of our lives as we’ll never be younger or filled with more energy than we are at this very moment. I learned from the book “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom that looking back and regretting signifies an unfulfilled life, one lacking in happiness. Living in the moment will allow us to desire and look forward to change. Leading an optimistic life, one focusing on the value of present rather than trying to get rid of it. A life worth living.