Non Standard Issue: Turning 22 (Young life crisis)

I’m not counting the days before Christmas. Instead, I’m marking the days before I turn 22.

I don’t expect to be forever 21 nor do I wish to be. But, what I fear is that my 22nd birthday will remind me of how far, or more accurately, how little I have made progress in my journey.

It is not the lack of blessings that is irritating my soul. It is the frustration of not being able to channel my talents into something more useful, more fulfilling, and more in line with my purpose.

Too young or too old?

In those rare times when I let down my wall and begin to share some of my dreams to others, they smile at me and reassure me that I am still young and I have enough time to make the change I want in my life.

Ironically, my youth can also be a liability. After one seminar, I was introduced to the speaker and after some small talk, she said, “You may not get it yet because you are still young.”

I just smiled, but looking back, I should have said many millionaires today are barely in their twenties.

You can never be too young to be financially literate. You can never be too young to start taking care of your health. You can never be too young to learn things that may seem inconsequential in the present, but are actually very important for your future.

You can never be too young to be in charge of your life.

But...what if you already feel too old to shift routes?

Passion is blind to age. As long as one’s heart is still pumping with blood, decisions can be made.

Better to live one day as a tiger than a hundred years as a sheep.

Stop living as a sheep.

Too late is only when you are six feet under.

How does one make a choice in a world where success is stereotyped?

When we are hardwired to believe that earning an agreeable degree and getting a high-paying job are marks of a high-achiever? And promotions are our benchmarks for climbing the ladder of success?

How can we even trust our diplomas when our education is badly in need of a reform?

When we are forced to memorize dates and names, instead of awakening in us the appreciation of the richness of art, history, and culture?

When important life skills such as financial education and finding your calling are lacking in the curriculum?

When textbook knowledge is not supplemented by real-life experiences?

When we swallow loads of crap that are useless, boring, and forgettable they leave our interest and curiosity uninspired?

When some teachers, at the first day of classes, drill us how to pass the subject instead of making us excited to explore and discover a world unknown to us?

Educated, but not learned.

Lucky are those who knew from the start what they wanted in life and after school, have already flown to the path which will lead them to their stars.

But for many graduates, they can be compared to disoriented, naive birds fresh out of the nest.

Unsure of what to do, they just pecked at the first worm they found, probably because of the pressure of being unemployed and the need for cash. But, the worm is just bait in the trap and they soon found themselves caught unawares.

Prematurely caged. Many with eggshells still sticking to their feathers.

Not all cages though are bad. They can act as incubators while the undecided birds are still pondering their next flight.

Sadly, when it’s already time to go, many birds prefer to remain in the comfort of the cage, even though they can’t see their names on them.

Exotic? Excuse? Luxury? New word?

Or why bother searching for what you love when cold cash is already lining your pockets? (So cold they do not warm your heart...)

Or maybe, you are just so damned afraid of what will happen you are not willing to take the risk? (Choosing to live in unhappiness instead...)

Or, have you become familiar with your little cage you have forgotten there are trees and flowers and sunshine outside? (Living and dying in your make believe world. A meaningless dash between birth and death.)

Is not being lost a prerequisite to being found?

Suddenly you have found that which your heart is yearning for.

Now, how do you pull yourself out from the trap when your companions are contentedly preening their wings, unaware of the impending slaughter?

You pray, you pray real hard.

But even if God exists, it will still be your hands and feet you will use to crawl away from the quicksand.

You must be willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable.

You have to toughen up and move forward even if you are already close to crying since you don’t have anyone to turn to.

You have to go to places you have never been before to search for eagles that will propel your flight higher.

Just because no one has done it yet does not mean it is impossible.

It’s time to define success, on my own terms.

Note: When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.