I'm another year older today. Can't help but to reflect on the years gone by. I am having a sweet time reminiscing the past, my achievements, memories with people I've loved and cared for. And of course, I also revisited the sad moments, the heartaches, the failures and disappointments.
Although the past does not define my future, it shapes up and made me who I am today. Sometimes it is necessary to review the past so we can understand our present and create a better future. We don't have to dwell on our past mistakes and disappointments. Instead, we use them as a tool for learning, to avoid doing the same mistakes over and over again. Experience is always the best teacher.
Though I'm not an Apple fan (I'm a linux user, I love Android and everything Google), but I like Steve Jobs. One of my favorite quotes is "Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
It's true.The past prepares us for our future. If it weren't for our past we wouldn't be the strong person we are today. Past hurts may have left us some scars but it's purpose is to remind us of how much pain we have endured so there's no reason why we cannot overcome any difficulties we encounter in the future.
I used to blame others and see myself as a victim of some unfortunate circumstances. But that kind of mentality only pushed me down further into the depths of bitterness and denial. So I stopped looking outward and started the journey inward. Only then I realized that I am responsible for my own misery. We may not be able to stop other people from hurting us but no one else can take us out from that seemingly insurmountable ordeal. We have the power to either submit to misery and prolong the pain or acknowledge it and move on. We create our own heaven and hell and we shape our own future.
Rejection and failure is another form of evil. But now I look at it as a blessing in a painful form. I used to beat myself up over my mistakes and spend enormous amount of time thinking about "I should have done things differently." As I grew older and wiser, I began to realize that mistakes are there to teach us a lesson. Sometimes, no matter how hard we tried we are still doomed to fail. It's inevitable, there's nothing you can do with it, you can only learn from it.
Everything we do (emotionally, intellectually, physically, spiritually) is an investment. Each time you invest success is never guaranteed. Failure means we made a mistake and we made a poor judgement. Once you recognize the factors that led you to failure then you know what to do next. But failing for the first time doesn't mean you will win the second time around. Life is constant error detection and correction process. Everyday we invest, hence everyday there is a possibility of losing and winning. Judgement is the key. Poor judgement can lead you to further damage. Change your game plan until you get the right formula to success. Allow yourself to fail, take time to process it and move forward. Connecting the dots means you connect the negative and positive aspects of your past so you can invest on healthier opportunities. Trust in something, and that something is your judgement. Success depends on how well you exercise your judgement every single day.
I have changed and grown so much these past years. I am grateful of my failures and looking forward to my future. There are still so many battles to lose and win and so many lessons to learn. Everyday I commit myself to become a better person. Everyday I try my best to make wise decisions and everyday is an opportunity for me to grow out of my mistakes and reap the rewards of success. I am a work in progress.
Happy birthday to me!
