Crossroads

For all those who work hard, dreamers of the BIG dreams and hopers of the impossible hopes – how does one know when to stop? How does one know or discern, that no matter how much more hard work one puts in something, or despite dreams and all the best hopes; that something is not going to happen? Unfortunately, we, as humans, sometimes have to face this reality. Sometimes, our biggest hopes, our most cherished dreams, will fall short of our aspirations. As rational beings we have to accept that some things are just not “in the cards” and that no matter how much more resources or prayers that we bestow upon a certain goal, it’s not going to happen. But how do we know when that day, minute, or moment has come upon us? When to forget about the hard work, long hours, and experiences missed, resources depleted, and other exhausting processes and look forward to or pursue another dream?

I, as a dreamer also, have always thought that it was difficult, especially for the dedicated person to know the difference between a hard time and a need to push on, and a time to reflect about what’s truly important and choose something different. Moreover, as a believer in God and of divine purpose, I certainly think that sometimes, if you want something to happen bad, even in opposition to your ‘purpose’ in life, you can be blinded by the completion of that goal and miss your purpose or ‘true’ goal in life. So where does one make that distinction? And moreover, how does one make that distinction? I believe that it takes place in the same area where dreams, hopes, and life-long goals come into being – the heart.

We ultimately, after all of the praying, all the hoping and wishing, all the education and guidance, really have two choices – we can follow our mind, our ability to reason, or we can follow our hearts, our innate ability to feel. In matters, where we are choosing between two distinctly different paths, one known (the Present) and the other being unknown (the Future), we should not rely upon reason, no matter how tempting it maybe. However reassuring reason is, it does not lend equal evaluation of both options – no one can ever know about the future. Instead, in deciphering what to do in the future, when we are discourage, face a hard time, or come to a cross roads we should lend upon the yearnings of the heart.

If we do not know if the road we are traveling leads to a dead end or eventual happy end, we should search our heart for what truly inspires us, what motivates us, and what makes us happy. If we follow such, no matter where that road leads, we would have had a great journey – an experience of a lifetime. And what one must keep in mind is that life is all about the journey and not the destination.

SO if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, college coach, businessman, wife, husband, mother, and/or father – and the road that you are traveling to that eventual end seems to be rough, bumpy or almost not travelable, search your heart. Because in it lies your true goals and aspirations, whether you accomplish them or not. Today I take heed to this advice insomuch as I am doing today what I thought that I wanted to do yesterday. And if I live like that, while making sure I try to be a better person than I was yesterday – how could I possibly go wrong? Today, and ever day forth, I am no longer doing only what makes sense to me. Today I am doing what makes me, with or against all logical reason, feel right and happy. Do the same!