Friday 26 September 2014

The Road to Self-Discovery is often Winding

Something that has worried me for a long time has been my lack of passion for, well, anything (except for unattainable things like Tom Hiddleston).

When I was at school, the only thing that interested me was sports. I enjoyed math, tolerated languages and HATED sciences. When the time came for us to apply to colleges and universities, I didn't know which career path I wanted to pursue.
I flunked my first year miserably for choosing something that someone else told me I was good at but that I had no interest in at all.

Eventually, I settled on a field of study that would enable me to work. To my astonishment, I excelled (which just goes to show that one needs strong enough motivation to succeed at anything - even if you're not passionate about it).
I've worked a few jobs now. And I take my work very seriously - either you give 100% or you quit.
But work has been simply a means to make a living (often for the benefit of others), and has not...well, touched my soul in any major way.

Last year, the Journalism course I took was a reaction to stress - caused by some unnecessary, and hectic family drama. I had such low expectations of myself when I started it but found, to my continuing surprise, that I had somewhat of an affinity with words.
Strangely enough, that writing course together with the conflict has led me to explore and experience a number of new things over the last twenty months: from managing websites to coordinating our school publication, writing fiction and editing books. More importantly, it has given me an avenue for expression and illuminated a path which will allow my work to satisfy my soul.

It took many twists and some unsuspecting turns...but I am, at long last, discovering myself.

Friday 5 September 2014

Growth

My best friend and I got into an argument. Thinking about it now, I cannot really say exactly how it came about, but it was the first one we've ever had (we've been friends for about 5 years now) and it was quite an epic one - and quite naturally, it was upsetting and uncomfortable.
One thing I am grateful for is that it happened over e-mail (which is one of our preferred means of communication - after being in each other's company, of course). I don't know whether I would have handled it, had the things that came to light been said in person.
In retrospect, the argument was a good thing in many ways.
It forced us to be completely honest (especially regarding things that are difficult to say); it forced us to recognize each other's flaws and short-comings (within the 'perfection' of our friendship); more than all of that though, it confirmed, for me at least, the authenticity and sincerity of our friendship.
And I am happy that despite my upset, I handled it more maturely than I may have before.