WRITING OUR FUTURE

Scarcely have I been so inspired and motivated by someone delivering a speech. Truth be told, I´m not a fan of speeches, of any kind. Or at least that is what I used to think before I watched Steve Job´s conference at Stanford University. At first, I thought that this gentleman was going to deliver a lecture about computers, technology and the “highly positive” effect they have on society. But I was wrong. As soon as he started speaking, I realised that behind that successful and brilliant exterior, there was a sensitive soul who had a message to share with everyone. And the most striking thing about it was that it turned out to be the story of my life, more or less. Thinking about our future and who we want to be are questions that are instilled in our minds since we are very young. A doctor, a lawyer, an architect or maybe a successful writer, are some of the professions and ambitions that we, human beings, are so desperate to become one day, or so it seems. And when the moment comes, the only question I can think of is: are we really pleased and satisfied with our decision? Or are we just trying to fulfil somebody else´s expectations?   And this is the part in which I totally agree with what Jobs says. Being a bright scientist or a famous lawyer does not necessarily make you a better person or citizen. Going to one of the most expensive universities in the world is not a guarantee of a promising future. However, following our hearts and thinking of our dreams will make us feel that we finally belong somewhere. It does not matter how crazy our ideas might be or how risky our plans can be. We should always give a try to what we really think is worth it. And once we get what we have wished for, we should not stay satisfied with what we have already achieved. There is always something new to learn and to do. Most importantly, we are the ones in charge of writing our own future. People who are part of our lives will always want the best for us. But BEST is not necessarily always a synonym of HAPPINESS. Sometimes it is necessary to be a little bit selfish and think of ourselves and what we want. Life is out there, waiting for all of us. Forget about what our parents want or what society expects from us. We should erase those ideas from our minds and keep our eyes focused on what we love to do and the reward we will get from it.

I would like to finish my reflection with this short quote by Paramore (which is my favourite band and by far my source of inspiration)

“It’s not the way you plan it, it’s how you make it happen”

(Paramore – Hello Cold World)

Video retrieved from:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UF8uR6Z6KLc