Life's beaten path lacks a view

The future holds untold tales of the magnificent and the minuscule. There is something enormously hope inspiring in the immeasurable potential which the vast future holds. As youth we more often then not, see this potential as infinite. As we emerge from this time of wonder and hope into an age of harsh reality and seemingly ever increasing responsibility, we tend to lose our youthful air of optimism. It seems to be swept away in the quickening current of the modern lifestyle. I see all that I love dearly in humanity eroded gradually and almost inevitably by the everyday world. All those things that I find awe inspiring and fundamentally beautiful seem to be lost by even the best examples to the world. Curiosity, dreams, hopes, passion, desire for a better world, are just a few of those beautiful things. I would most simply describe this beauty as youth in a metaphysical form.

We lose morale in our struggle against the mundane and typical work-to-live formula. It seems our everyday encounter with the 9-5 engrains a notion of inevitability into our minds. The archetypal existence of the capitalist worker bee becomes so familiar to us that we see it as the safe route. This would undoubtedly and truthfully be the safest route to take in life. However, as comforting as this safety is, it acts not unlike the comforter does when you pull it up over your head to hide from the frightening and mysterious darkness.

In fact I like that metaphor. The path of the archetypal existence is just like pulling the comforter over your head. It provides us with a comfort but prevents us from what could be a much more fulfilling existence, an existence full of potential. Now, I must say that this an observation made in generalities. I do not doubt that some of the most fulfilling lives have been lived in the most basic and typical ways. Despite the idea of fulfilment being almost completely relative to the desires of the individual, I am going to argue that most often then not, those who find themselves unfulfilled in life have taken all the right steps, just down the wrong path.
The path I speak of is that of the mundane. A self absorbed, numbed, tunnel vision existence, which seems to be the direct product of our modern Western society. There I go using the broadest terms possible again. I am aware of this, but I have confidence in the intelligence of those reading this. I am referring specifically to the institutions of influence that shape our view of what is normal. The one that I see is the most powerful source of this hegemonic influence in all of our lives. It works hand in hand with the culture of our time reflecting and reinforcing all the while shaping it. It is a symbiotic relationship of sorts.

This influence that our culture undergoes helps reinforce this consistent loss of youth in us. Those of us currently in our studies at university are at a major cross road. We can decide what we wish to do with our limitless potential and new found knowledge. We can take new paths or even make them. We can stay true to our ideals and make real impacts on not only those immediately around us, but impacts that resonate throughout humanity and stretch forth across time. Do not doubt for a second that this is possible. No matter how logical or well reasoned an argument about the future is, it is never certain. There are many who would doubt one person’s potential for greatness. There are also those who would argue the futility of resistance against taking the beaten path. These are only a few of the many who have lost that spark of youth.

The goal of this posting was to help inspire the desire to retain that spark. Perhaps, it may have even rekindled that spark. Please, if anything just be aware that the world will slowly and very subtly wear your gleaming former self down. Do not give in to the pressures of the world. Do not forfeit your goals and aspirations to follow the beaten path. Reach self actualization, and then turn around to see the young you smile as proud as can be.