No Calling No Future
May 23, 2011
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
This is one of the questions that almost every single human being has posed to himself at one point or another in life. The lack of direction in someone’s life may seem for many a synonym of incompetence. But in reality it has nothing to do with our own ability to figure that out. It actually goes deeper than just our own understanding of such thing as our calling or purpose.
When we are in the early years of childhood and begin to learn about the different professions people have, we then also start day dreaming about our own future and how fun it could be to do this or that. Becoming one day a fireman, a doctor, a teacher, or a famous NBA athlete are some of the goals we hear from our children still today. That has not changed at all. But then adolescence comes and it gets really hard. Thanks to our lack of confidence in many cases, but also because of the great absence of the understanding of who we truly are, it is then when we get extremely confused about what we want to be when we grow up. Adults around our teenagers, including us the parents, throw at them all these expectations and hopes. And pressure starts to build up. So they have no other choice but to decide on a career whether they feel ready or not. And we send them to college with no plan.
Life can be truly hard over the years when we find ourselves a few years from turning 30, 40, or 60 and we look back and that horrible phrase comes out from the bottom of our heart and we say: “What have I done in my life that really matters?”
I have said that in the past. I have felt that pain and I have been without direction before. It is not a nice place to be at. However, the puzzle that we turn our lives into little by little can also be demystified. I went through such process not long ago. Back in 2006 I decided I wanted to go back to college. Back then I felt like I could do anything I put myself up for. I honestly believed in my heart that lie we parents tell our children: “You can do anything you want to be.” In no way I am discouraging parents from trying to help their children become their best. But just think for minute… do you honestly believe you could be the best at some profession that you are not gifted for? Reality says no you can’t. You’ll just become average.
When I was 12 or 13 years old, I knew in my heart I wanted to be a prima ballerina. I took as many ballet classes as my parents could afford. I stretched even in my sleep (seriously I did). And to make it even funnier I practiced during school recess too. But the one element that everybody around me, including those who loved me most forgot was to tell me the truth: I was not as talented in that area as I thought I could become one day. It was until the end-of-the-year examinations when one of the Royal Academy of Ballet examiners asked me why I kept on trying if I was not that good. That obviously crushed my teenage heart. But it also opened my eyes and the veil drop down to show my own reality. Don’t get me wrong here please; I kept on dancing for the delight of doing something I truly love. I’ll be turning 40 in a few more months and for my summer fun I’ll be attending a ballet summer camp. That I understood long ago is my hobby, not my purpose!
Please share your story here with me. I know what it’s like to be without direction, but I also know how amazing it is to know who I am now and what is my real goal and purpose in life. So share your story below in the comments area, I want to hear from you and I will be responding to your questions! Now Enjoy the real talented ones and watch this video!
