I have worked in the corporate world for 2 years and 4 months, so it is not a mountain of experience. Prior to that I am a MBA in Marketing and prior to that a Graduate of Science majoring in Biotechnology. Through all these phases though there has been one constant, I have been a son for all my life. When I think about it in retrospect, I owe the freedom of choice that I have had to my parents. With that realisation however comes a burden to shoulder and that is of all the expectations.
I have been in existence for 25 years and from the day that I was born there were dreams attached to my actions and my plans. My mother might have seen a doctor in her arms, or my father might have seen an engineer in the crib. They might have seen a national swimmer in the pool and a scholar at school who would go through education magna cum laude.
Well, I necessarily did not dream of all of those, but thanks to my parents I was never made to follow any of the above either. We all make mistakes and will continue making them, and so will I (I do not plan to stop). Although on reflection, a theme arises. Picture for me if you will a window in a wall, the only opening in a monolithic facade. What you see through that window is your future, your plans, the ideal scenarios etc. a script if you will of what your life should be. The problem with this picture however is the glass on this window, which is filtering that light in. What colour is it? Well it is the colour of expectations, opinions, learning and wisdom. And that filter might be capable of giving a biased view of actually what could be.
We often read through articles about what a place this world has become, and we need to work on it for a greater tomorrow, a brighter future, a world where mankind can survive for eternity and not have to face the consequences for the mistakes we and our ancestors have made. It is easy to agree to the fact that what we do or do not will be for our children. The next generation endures and the previous one fades. It is cyclical and inevitable ... today is the oldest you have been and the youngest you will ever be. So then are we giving them a fair chance to make the world the way they want to be?
Wisdom I agree is something that tells you which mistakes not to make, but isn't it static knowledge with a * for conditions apply (all other things remaining constant). Does it mean that our children should not dare traverse those paths where we have stumbled and make the safer choice always? It is a moral dilemma which I currently am struggling with. Success is relative, and I might be fantastic at work, earn enough for a comfortable retirement, take some risks on my way and fail badly and still be a monumental failure as a son because of certain unfulfilled expectations. So how to make that choice?
Confusion and frustration ensues. I know that parents have a right to be anxious and keeping everyone happy is the toughest part in life. Finding a Balance is my quest and I hope someday that it can be achieved with less heartburn and even lesser tears.
To break that window pane or not? Now that is the question I have to figure out.
