Alone with Questions

The more I see, observe, and experience, I come to conclusion that everyone is alone.

This life is a solo trip that everyone takes alone. We indeed have companies along the way, but they just crossed paths with us during the trip.

When you travel alone, no wonder sometimes or many times, you’ll get confused. You feel like you don’t know where to go, no matter how detailed you make your plans. You’ll face countless periods when the trip doesn’t go according to your schedule.

This makes the phrase “Know thyself” hit right on the spot. Maybe this solo trip is all about the journey to know ourselves, to realize who we truly are, then live accordingly.

In my country, usually, the confusion starts when it’s time to choose universities after graduating from high school. I think it’s exactly the real solo trip begins after traveling safely with the family for the last 18 years. Maybe some of us begin earlier. But, in general, most of us start at 18.

It’s the beginning of the period of asking endless questions that we ask ourselves. But, based on my observations, not everyone bother to look for the answers.

I have been dealing with many 20s-something in a boot camp where I have volunteered since last year. I am pretty sad whenever I listen to the indifferent tone when they tell me about what they do in life.

I wish everyone understands how precious your 20-s something. It’s one of the most critical periods in one’s life; one should use well and live it to the fullest. This period is all about something you need and want to do yourself. Whatever it is.

The period when you can decide everything on your own, the period where you can go wrong without bearing too many consequences, the season of life you can learn as much as you can, from anyone, from anywhere.

I am not saying that life stops there. But, the next session in life would give you a different set of questions to deal with. For this thing, I have also seen enough examples of the consequences when one is not working on their own 20-s issue. The impact is more extensive than their own lives.

This is one of my biggest fears in raising my daughter.

I am afraid I’m not (or we’re not) raising her well enough to have enough curiosity to ask some crucial questions about herself and her life and the ability to find the answers herself.

I hope when her time comes to start her solo trip, she won’t merely survive. I want her to thrive.

I want her to have lots of courage to deal with real-life problems. I want her to keep going no matter how much and hard she falls. I want her to not only chase pleasure, but I wish her to pursue meaning. I want her to understand the giant bug that prevents her from achieving anything that she wants to accomplish is always inside. I want her to consult not only me or her father or whoever advisor she trusts, but most importantly, I want her to consult Her Creator for every decision she makes because He is the only One who can guide and protect her from any harm in life. After all, whatever she does, wherever she is, again, she is on her own. I want her to involve Her Creator in everything she does in life.

As an 8yo, she asks many questions, and I hope she will keep doing so. I am grateful we have Google now. But Google is there to give some insights. It answers our preliminary questions, but its job stops there. We can use that for the next step, but the honest answer to our most essential life questions will never be found in Google. We have to keep looking to find the best solution where we finally feel at peace.

Tears couldn’t help flowing whenever this thought struck. Guess I have said enough for now.

Wow, a few writings in a row for the past few days. Well done, you, keep going.