Text
Chapter I - The future is clear
You ever heard those annoying stories about successful teenagers (or 20 year-olds) that from a young age showed signs of incredible talent? You know, the ones that make you feel like you’re completely ordinary—an average Joe, if you will. Well, I’ve heard plenty and, let me tell you, they can be demoralizing.
I read a story about an English bloke once. Apparently, over 300 years ago, this English fellow in his twenties developed some three little laws of motion that we still use today—and, let’s face it, we’ll probably never stop using them. How?! Did they even have electricity back then? I wanted to keep on reading but then they started talking about one of his ideas surging from an apple hitting his head and I just lost it.

Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash
Anyway, as discouraging as these stories may be, I refuse to fall prey to their daunt. I, for one, have a plan—and it’s grandiose one at that! Much like these crazy physicists, every day of my existence from here on out will be devoted to the accomplishment of this plan, this goal, this dream!
Man, oh man, will I be happy once it comes true. I see it already: The interviews, the awards, the articles written about me, the biographies that stand the test of time, family and friends proven wrong (or right), strangers coming to me for advice. Boy, will it be sweet.
My story will become a common household tale, much like the stories of that one American fellow, Warren Buffet. You know, like the one where, as a teenager, he had his own little pinball empire to make money. Or like the one where, at an even younger age, he would buy packs of Coca-Cola bottles and then sell them separately around a lake during hot summer days. That’s what I strive to be: A legend!

Photo by Talles Alves on Unsplash
So, what’s my dream? I dream to become a one of the top economists in the world and win a Nobel Prize for my findings. I know that I am disciplined enough, hard-working enough, and stubborn enough to accomplish this task. I am currently sixteen years of age, and the fire is burning. I will continue studying every day until I graduate from High School, at which point I will attend one of the top universities in the world and receive a degree in Economics. After that, I’ll pursue a major and then, eventually, obtain a PhD in Economics.
I’m learning new things every day and I know it’ll all come in handy when I start taking university economics courses. I truly feel ahead of the curve! Am I a prodigy? I certainly feel on top of the world right now; if anyone came up to me and asked me anything regarding economics, I would recite all that I know like a beautiful poem written by that one fellow, William Shakespeare.
My future is bright, and I truly can’t wait for the moment I receive my PhD—let alone the moment I win a Nobel Prize. Until those doors open, however, I see nothing else but hard work, dedication, and patience. Happiness is hard-earned, but sweet—and boy will mine be sweet!
GIF by obama
0 notes
Text
Chapter II - Not supposed to be here
It’s incredible how time flies, isn’t it? Ten years have passed and I’ve only just begun my 2nd year of university. What ever happened to that sixteen-year-old with drive and ambition?
It’s quite funny, actually. Now, when I hear other teenagers talk about their dreams at work, or on the bus, or at school, I can’t help but to compare my life to theirs. I don’t know if I compare out of spite—seeing as I didn’t get as far as I thought I would by this age—but I compare, nonetheless. Am I envious of their drive? Am I envious of who they could become at my age? I mean, some of them already seem a lot smarter than I was at their age. If success stories were demoralizing back then, potential success stories from people younger than me today are simply depressing.
However, I can’t say that I’m envious; after all, their success won’t keep me up at night. I guess I just wish I had the opportunity to redo it all again. One thing led to another, and somehow, I wound up here today. I’ve failed to complete the majority of goals I set out to accomplish.
It was all so clear back then; in fact, I’m not supposed to be here right now. I’m supposed to be in graduate school publishing academic articles that forever change the field of economics. I was supposed to be a prodigy. I’m supposed to be…happy.
Regardless, that unfortunately isn’t my reality today. My reality today consists of three final papers to write by the end of the semester and one multiple choice exam to study for. On top of that, I’m convinced I’ve become the king of all mundane, boring, monotonous, and dull existences. I ride the bus to school Monday to Friday, I go to lectures, I ride the bus home, grab something to eat, walk my dogs, and then hit the books again all evening long.

Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash
Weekends, you ask? I work a part-time job at a café Saturdays and Sundays. I watch all kinds of people come and go, and I always wonder, “what did they do right that I didn’t?”.
As hopeless as this text may seem, I still have hope that my time to shine will come soon. I still have hope that the doors will soon open and I’ll receive that which I have longed for these past ten years: Happiness.
No longer will I need to settle for these part-time jobs! As soon as I graduate, I’ll finally start my life! No longer will I be far-removed from all my high school friends—if I can still call them that—that have degrees, steady jobs, houses, families…a life!
All I need is a break from this everyday nonsense that has haunted me and gotten me nowhere these past 10 years—there always seems to be one useless problem.
It’s endless, I tell you! Endless!
GIF by Milo Targett
0 notes
Text
Chapter III - I realize now

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
You ever heard those annoying stories and quotes about happiness coming from within? You know, the ones that make you think that the people who wrote them failed to accomplish their dreams and have simply settled for the little things that life gave them. Well, I’ve heard plenty of those stories and, let me tell you, they’re sort of…not wrong.
I’m 36 years of age and you can call me a doctor now. Yes, can you believe it? After all this time, I managed to do it; however, the whole experience was strangely underwhelming. This whole time, I thought it would feel…well…different.
Turns out I’m not the center of the universe that I thought I was—people have always been too focused on themselves to even look my way. Interestingly enough, I still find myself needing to prove my worth to…well…I don’t even know who at this point.
The craziest part about this whole thing is how the doors to happiness had always been open—even when I was sixteen. The majority of these past 20 years consisted of mundane situations. In fact, I would go as far as to say that a mere one percent of these past 20 years contained success and accomplishments; the rest filled with uneventful experiences…or so I thought.
Looking back now I realize how simple and incredible it was to take those long early morning bus rides watching the sunrise. I realize how truly beautiful my university campus was, surrounded by nature and filled with wildlife. I realize how extraordinary it was to arrive home after a long day at school to a couple of dogs happily welcoming me. I realize how lucky I was to work at that café and develop the long-lasting relationships that kept me going throughout my studies.
Although it’s very tempting to say that I would give anything to go back to sixteen to do it all again properly, that would defeat the whole purpose of my newfound realization. I’m not meant to be anywhere else but where I am now. It’s funny, isn’t it? I got formally educated but learnt the most outside of my formal education.
My accomplishments and my so-called ‘successes’ have changed my life, but not in the way I thought they would. These exterior things were only useful to help me realize how little they affect my overall wellbeing. Ironically and paradoxically enough, the realization derived from these successes helps me appreciate these accomplishments even more. They’ve allowed me to accept, and maybe even find joy in both the little and the big things that come my way.
I realize now that life happens today. Life starts every day. Eating, walking, drinking, getting stuck in traffic, riding the bus, working a part-time job, being the last person at the end of a long lineup, getting a flat tire, getting sick, studying, writing papers, all of it is life. Life doesn’t start after or before any of it.
I realize now that I shouldn’t have been waiting for the doors to open. They were always open…I just couldn’t see.
GIF by elmotionlab
0 notes