So what is the purpose of all of this? I was asking myself while looking back at how my recent day-to-day life has been evolving in the last few years. Feels like I’m stuck in my own routine – work, family, children, house chores, bills to pay – day in and day out. Although everything may be going alright, I remind myself that Life is a Choice and thankfully we do have the ability to make our own choices in life. Evidently, what I currently experience and the way I live is based on the choices I’ve made. It’s up to me to change it if I feel this is not going anywhere, or at least not heading in the right direction.

I guess it can be quite tricky to keep the adrenaline going, the interest, the passion, the emotions. Once you realize you are cruising in auto-pilot, but you’re missing all the fun in taking control over your own journey and make the most of it, this is where you have the opportunity the make a change. Unfortunately, in most cases you are afraid to make a change, unless you are being pushed against the wall. Why would you take the risk? after all, it’s all nice and comfortable, so why would you take any chances?

Luckily, things will fall apart eventually. Sooner or later you will find yourself in an interesting situation, where things are simply not cruising anymore, you have doubts, and the daily routine is killing you slowly but surely. And this is where the emotions kick in, when things bounce up and down and it’s up to you to take some action. This is when you find yourself battling to make your next choice – to settle yourself down, then to push yourself forward.

Realistically this whole change-of-mindset could have been triggered by unpleasant experiences – a disappointment in your life, a break up, a stab in the back from a good friend, a failure at work when your career progression is not going the way you planned. But if you manage to calm down and push away the negatives, you can then focus on the glass-half-full in life. It might remind you to appreciate what you’ve got, rather than focus on the things you don’t. And what you’ve got is very likely to be the most important things in life – your family, your children, your partner, the love you have towards those you care about the most, and the love they give you back. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is love and be loved in return”.

So isn’t it great that something rattled your boring everyday life which you have already lost interest in? That something reminded you to be thankful for what you have already achieved and appreciate each and every bit of it? That now you are on the journey again to pursue those dreams you’ve always had and wanted to chase, but you just didn’t quite get to do it yet for a thousand odd reasons? Isn’t it the most amazing thing to have the energy flowing around your body again, when you know that new opportunities are simply waiting for you out there if you dare to take a risk? If you’ll never try you’ll never know. This is what you always wanted – to Live while You’re Alive. Don’t just cruise along, take the path less traveled by, you definitely don’t want to wake up in 20 years and regret that you never gave it a go.

OK, deep breath now. Here’s another problem – while so many people out there would tell you to leave everything and do what you love, realistically you can’t just walk away from everything and pursue your dreams, can you. You still need to pay the bills, plan your financial future, make sure your kids are getting the best education and well-being, and take care of your loved ones (either your parents and your children). So you can’t just walk away from everything can you? How do you find the balance, how do you take that step, how can you stop pushing back your dreams and still manage to maintain everything you need in this capitalist world? Tricky isn’t it.

Alright, I guess we shall keep our day jobs, but that doesn’t mean the journey to chase our dreams will wait any longer. Let’s just do it, kick it off, right now. Well, this is assuming you already have a dream to chase. Here are a few points to think about:

• Ask yourself some seriously tough questions
• Think about what moments do you really feel alive
• What do you really want to achieve in life
• Pursue a life which is meaningful to you
• Do something that matters

What is it that you always wanted to do? What is it that you are too afraid to give it a go? Will you take this opportunity and start living again? What choice will you take? What if this could be the beginning of something truly great? What if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts ’cause there’s no second try
So live like you’ll never live it twice
Don’t take the free ride in your own life

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