We can be anything

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[pipdig_padded_text]I look at what we have in this generation, and I feel truly blessed. The access to clean water, technology, choices and the internet. The opportunities are endless. We are brought up with love. Educated to know that if we work hard enough, we can be anything we want to be. I’m truly grateful. We can be anything. It’s true.

But we can’t and shouldn’t be everything.

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I just read an article today about a blogger who went into $10,000 debt trying to be InstaFamous. You don’t even have to be an influencer or blogger to see that it’s all wrong. The idea that perception is more important than reality is getting more common, and I can’t help but be a little disheartened that this may be the rhythm of our future. I’m only human, and I’m guilty of wanting to have it all (especially when I was younger).

Sometimes we try to hard to be successful in terms that are laid down to us by society, by our peers and by social media. We try to be our best in every aspect.

We regulate our diets, spend long hours at the gym to look good, buy or cook foods that are Instagram worthy, worry about our ‘likes’ or ‘followers’, have strong opinions about everything, use the trendiest beauty products, be camera ready and own the latest technology and gadgets.

We think we are failures if we don’t achieve high social status, get invited to the glitzy parties, jet set in style to exotic destinations, own covetable material possessions, run a business or come up with something innovative.

We measure our success by comparing ourselves to others. To continually be chasing on the coattails of the next big thing. To try to be seen and heard. Judging other as others judge us. It is tiring and needless. [/pipdig_padded_text]

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In case, you missed the point; I’m not just talking about bloggers, YouTubers, Instagramers (or whatever new terms there are these days). I’m talking about EVERYONE including those who shun away from social media but use it as a bragging statement to the next man he meets on the street about how aloof and different he is.

I’m not saying that social media is bad or that we shouldn’t pursue what our heart desires. I just think that it’s important to know what your heart truly wants and not to lose yourself in the world of perceived success. We make our own lives, and we determine our accomplishments.

Maybe it’s the age catching up with me but time is increasingly precious. Leading a meaningful life (even if it’s boring compared to the perfect InstaWorld) is my priority.

Right now, if I could be anything, I’ll like to go back being a student of sorts. It’ll be nice to spend a sabbatical year just learning something new, catching up on sleep, volunteering to make the world a better place with kind words or good actions, taking up exciting jobs for the experience instead of the paycheck, travelling, reading, watching sunsets, writing and creating without a care in the world.

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