Missing Out

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Glee. Emma Pillsbury, the Obsessive-Compulsive Guidance Counselor delivered it this way, “The only life worth living is one that we’re passionate about.”

Although some may argue that this quote is not universally true, I believe in all my heart that passion is relative to one’s dreams. My only concern is that I may have spent so much dreaming that I have wasted so many years before taking that one giant step for my dreams to be realized. I may have watched too many Disney movies about being young and following your heart and have missed out on the opportunities that have passed by. Or I may have watched Good Will Hunting many times and answer the question repeatedly “What do you want to do?” that I have already missed my chances on taking control of my life and doing what I really want to do ASAP.

Retrieved from Bubblenews

Nevertheless, I have read one article in Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Youngblood and it says, “Psychologists say that the ability to postpone gratification for a greater reward is a sign of emotional maturity.” This is particularly true for me because sometimes, you have to sacrifice doing what you really love over something that’s practical, urgent and realistic. You may love surfing but you need to save up for you to be able to buy the equipment and enjoy the sport. What I’m trying to say is that, there are things that cannot be done in an instant. Spontaneity may be a remarkable characteristic if you want to impress a girl such as taking her to a place in a whim. However, there’s danger in making a wrong decision when it has not been carefully thought of.

So can passion wait? Can your destiny wait on you while you establish stability and independence so that in the long run, you can follow what you really want?

Paulo Coelho answers that question in his book, The Alchemist. “If you really want something, the entire universe conspires with you on achieving it.” 

Passion defies all rules of gravity. Yes, at first you will experience that death-defying gravitational pull downwards but like an arrow, it’s because you are being thrust into the right direction. And right direction is the way I want to go.