Karl Albrecht wrote, “The typical human life seems to be quite unplanned, undirected, unlived, and unsavoured. Only those who consciously think about the adventure of living as a matter of making choices among options, which they have found for themselves, ever establish real self-control and live their lives fully”.
From the moment we are born everything is in motion, a journey has begun and a new story is about to be written. Some of the storyline will be our own creation and some of it others will write but we are the only ones who will live it, and no one can teach you how to live. Others may determine the mission statement; parents, teachers, partners, all can influence and direct a life, but the business of living is finite so don’t waste a moment living someone else’s plan.
If our lifespan is limited then whatever we take out of life is a straight exchange for some of that time, so make sure you exchange it for something that is worthwhile. Pope Paul said “Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrow."
It is exhausting and a waste of time to try and mould your life to fit someone else’s design because constantly seeing the world though someone else’s eyes means your achievements are never wholly your own and consequently you never wholly deserve the rewards.
Title quote by Henry David Thoreau