"There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, - “Morning, boys, how's the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, -“What the hell is water?” ~David Foster Wallace.
This blog entry has been 'inspired' by our sweet noona^ and her last blog entry: a sad poem about feeling down for not being able to live up other people's expectations.
Dear noona^ , I don't know you and I've barely talked to you in Ec, but your touching message made me feel sad and angry, because if there is something I really hate is to see how some people tell others how to live their lives.
I know it's very easy to say things like: 'be yourself', 'everything is gonna be okay', 'follow your dreams'... We all say that to someone (or to ourselves) in some moments of our lives. We spit it out like if it was mantra that we need to believe.
When we feel down and we hear stuff like that, we feel it like if it was just a bunch of nonsense crap... Empty words that people tell us just because they don't know what else to say.
But we should remember every day all these obvious things. We have to repeat ourselves every day that our life is only ours and we've to be ourselves, no matter what. Our freedom depends on that.
The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort... The alternative is living unconsciousness, like a robot with the default settings.
So 'Be yourself'. Remember this obvious mantra every day. It's unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out... For this reason we have to be aware of what is real and essential; what is really important in our life. Be aware because all these 'obvious' things are so hidden in plain sight all around us, that we have to keep reminding ourselves, over and over: "This is water, this is water."
Thanks for sharing your poem noona^ .
And thank you all for reading.
Hugs.
Comments
My dear noaslpls!
That's a very intereting story with a very good point. I'm working on an art field and I've seen some similar situations, but your story has a different an interesing ending... What I see with your story is that it can help to follow other people's advice too. Human being is complicated and I admit that many times I don't even know what I want myself, so yeah... that's another option to take in mind... even if you 'disarm' my theory with that :D
Hello sweet noona^!
I'm very happy to know that you feel better now :) I've to thank you again for sharing that poem, and your thoughts too... As you can see, whatever small thing you do it can affect others... even people living lot of thousand miles away! How 'crazy' is that? :D
Please, keep sharing your thoughts with us every time you feel like. I'd be glad to read from you again :)
A wonderful blog Mary.
Can I tell you a story? It's not mine, but I hope it can relates to your blog somewhat. There's a man. Now he's a very successful CEO of a big company. He was an architect because life was hard when he grew up. His parents were expecting him to be successful in life. At that time, successful in life means having a steady job with a good salary.
He loves arts. But he knew that as an artist, he won't be considered to have a good job with a good salary. He knew his parents were relying on him to show a good example to his other siblings. Thus, he made a compromise in his ambition. He became an architect and was suffessful in his career.
But deep down, he still yearned to be an artist. Then sometimes in his successful career, he left his job with the high salary. He studied back to be an artist. He made it as an artist and put several of his paintings in the local gallery.
But now he's a CEO of another company. Why? He said because he had proven to himself that he can be an artist. So now painting is just his hobby, but at the same time he misses the thinking process of being in top management.
I guess he is enjoying his life and realise that he can achieve both things.
What I'm trying to say in here is that, maybe sometimes in our life, we had to compromise and live up to other people expectation. Circumstances may play a major role in our decision. But at the same time, maybe we can keep on dreaming that one day, we will achieve what our heart desires.
Evangelina!!
You tactless??!! That can't be possible!!!
Why do you say that? Of course everybody's comment is welcome, and even more yours! Censorship goes against my principles! How could I delete whatever you say??!! Still I'm not that crazy! :D
You always say the nicest things ever!
I'm not a saint, neither an evil... but I guess there are some things that affect us particularly.
This personal 'letter' is not just for noona but for whoever wants to read it, and for myself too. I also need to tell all these 'obvious' mantras to myself sometimes :)
Thanks a heap for stopping by, I always say that your comments are very special for me and I really mean it.
Thank you Eva.
Yes, you're right setareh. The sooner you start living your own life the way you want, the better. But I also think that never is late for a change :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts setareh, I love to read your comments :)
Dear Mary, no matter how much we try to satisfy others by living up other's expectations, it will come a day that you have to make a choice which is probably not what they want or expect you to do. So it's better to do that so much earlier before you give up on all your dreams or better to say before it's too late. the more you try to satisfy others the the will expect you so be yourself and let them accept the fact that you are the way you want to be. Thanks for your nice post.