How many times do you think you’ve
heard the quote “Life is only here for a moment, so you had better live it up.”
Or let’s rephrase that. How many times have you heard the terms “YOLO, HAM, or
FISH?” That’s what I thought, more times than what you cared to hear…
Ponder this: What are you living it for?
As a young working professional, I easily
feel pressure that comes with trying to “live life for the moment.” You know,
wanting to have work success, drive a nice car, and have an awesome pad to live
in. Along with that comes the responsibility of making sure my future is secure
by setting up my 401K, contributing to my mutual fund, and making sure I stay
up to date on my monthly health insurance premiums. "After a while it all seems
a bit absurd, but you find yourself sucked into it." Many of my friends and acquaintances have made
it their number one priority to be successful. I also admit that I oftentimes
get caught up in the desire to accomplish and succeed. Yet what’s the end
result by doing all of the above? What am I living for by doing that?
This desire to succeed and
accomplish was probably my #1 fault in college. I could not WAIT to be done
with college, because it was preventing me from going out and making a name for
myself. I wanted to be out there. Wherever “there” was I was more than willing
to go. I went back to Hope College a couple of weeks ago to have coffee with a
professor, and I got a sickening feeling in my stomach as I drove through
Hope’s campus. I couldn’t figure out why I felt that way until it hit me. When looking
back on my college experience, I don’t think I did very many things that I
could stake pride in. In fact, I almost felt as if I was spinning my wheels for
4 years. There were so many people who told me to slow down and enjoy college
life. While I mostly ignored that advice I realized that it was in part true.
I hate being wrong but I will admit
where I probably could have made some stamp of impact or change in my 4 years
in college, I chose instead to look my situation in a negative way. Don’t get
me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being driven and wanting to accomplish
your goals and dreams. Just remember being driven has its pros and cons. Don’t
overlook what’s right in front of your face. Often times you’re so focused on
the long term goals that you overlook short term priorities. So with that being
said,
#1. Learn to let go…
Wakeup calls are awesome aren’t
they? NOT. Well here’s a little wakeup call I experienced this week in a telephone
conversation with a close friend of mine (and Aquinas graduate) Mark Dahveed (far left).
Me: “So now that the election is
done and you’re graduated now, what are you going to do? Going to stay around
GR?”
Mark: “Umm, not really…sorta…yes…no…well…it’s
complicated…”
Me: <Awkward silence> “Umm…ok?
You know you do have a degree right?”
Mark: Well, I know that, but I’m
thinking of leaving in a couple of weeks to go to Honduras.
Me: <dumbfounded>“Honduras?
Umm….ok…did you find a job down there?”
Mark: “No… not really, well…sorta. I’m
thinking about teaching English down there in a school. I’m not sure.”
Me: <some -sort- of- probably-
even- more- awkward- silence> oh, that’s awesome man.
I was shocked…but right as I was
shocked, I was also floored with the utter fact that I actually was shocked. I
knew Mark. His chill, laid back demeanor often times saved me from many a yellow
cards back in our high school soccer playing days. It was perfectly normal for
him to want to do that. Heck, that’s what he went to college for. It left me
scratching my head wondering how deep I had sunk into the “regular, NORMAL,
rigors of life.” So, here’s my wakeup
call to you. If you think that being “successful” means staying in the USA and
doing the normal thing every college graduate or American citizen does, I’m
afraid you are wrong. By the end of our conversation, I was so excited for
Mark’s situation. Almost to the point of wanting to go with him (I called him
the next morning before he even had a chance to even get out of bed). He didn’t
have to “know it all” in order for him to act, but he had a desire to go. It left
me happy knowing that Mark is following his calling and purpose.
It also made me realize again that there are bigger things out there than just MY
wants and needs. Thank goodness for gracious and forgiving friends. Mark knows
there’s an earth that needs impacting... This brings me to my next point.
#2. Don’t let your current situation
define who you are. The world is broader than your situation.
Ever been in a gym recently? Ever
notice how many people have headphones on? Pretty much the entire gym
population. When I went, I could count a
handful of people who didn’t have ear buds on. Yet, I’m not here to place hate.
Heck, I even have my iPod on when I go. It helps me concentrate. But when my iPod
broke due to me sweating so much (I’m sure it had salt deposits built up inside
of it which fried it when I plugged it in), it made me self-conscious when I didn't have it. Yet it
also made me more aware of my surroundings. I was able to have conversation
with non-headphone wearers and established a few chatting buddies at the gym.
Here’s what’s worse. Ever been in a New York City subway? Haha, it is LUDACRIS!
Here are people who probably ride this metal tube every day, squished together
like sardines and it is DEAD QUIET. No one speaks, heck, I tried to make eye
contact with an elderly lady to give up my seat so she could sit down and she
flat out ignored me. Most of them probably recognize each other from riding the
same lines every day, but no one says a WORD. Everyone is on their iPods, cell
phones, nooks, and laptops. Wow, is that really how everyone lives nowadays?
Towards the end of my night in NYC, a man came up to me and asked for a ride,
and I obliged. Everyone who was around me that heard him ask for a ride was
completely in shock. But It felt good. Which leads to the final point.
#3. Don’t let the rigors and grind
of everyday dim your desire to help others wherever they may be.
So it took an explanation of YOLO,
a conversation of Honduras, and a NYC subway for me to realize all that again.
Don’t let it be you! Step outside of your bubble and help someone.
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