All my life, I’ve been called an optimist. I was always
happy, always smiling, and always positive. But, as I grew older, people stopped calling
me an optimist, and chose instead to deem me “naïve.” By saying that, they meant that one couldn’t
possibly truly understand life, and still love it as much as I do. I never
really paid all of this much heed till very recently.
These last few weeks have been…..stressful. Emotionally,
physically, so much so I even caught the flu because of it! It was a series of
instances that brought me to this state, successive and hard-hitting. I cannot
tell you all that happened, but I can honestly say that all of these have
changed me forever.
This year was bound to be crazy from the start, with this
being my final year in high school, but the stress that comes with it is
unfathomable. It’s hard enough dealing with the idea of “the rest of my life”,
but throw in school, classes, obligations, interests, and the rest of the messy
human experience, and you have one hell of a challenge in front of you. I was
in such a place, when I was hit by a tidal wave (metaphorical, of course) that knocked
me to the ground. I knew I could get up, I just began to wonder what’s the
point in trying so hard was. I hated those thoughts and I hope I never have
them ever again.
With the help of the greatest parents and most supportive
friends, I got out of my slump (and as Dr.Seuss taught us, unslumping yourself
is not easily done). I’m so grateful, and I’m writing today to tell you what I
learned.
I learned that sometimes, people are going to hurt you.
Sometimes in life, you’re going to get passed over. Sometimes, Life is going to
throw you some curveballs, and some are going to hit you in the face. But
that’s ok.
Like I said, people have always called me naïve and have
always said to me “Don’t expect things to change. Just get used to the way
things are.” But they’re wrong. They’re so unbelievably wrong because change is
just about the only thing in the world we can truly count on. Times change, and
we change with them - always for the better. I don’t really mind if you think
I’m silly or immature, because I’ve seen so much negativity these last few
weeks, not only in myself but in those around me, and in my eyes, such
negativity is no longer an option.
I was speaking to a friend a few days ago, and it broke my
heart when she told me I sounded as if someone had drained the spirit out of
me. That’s what woke me up. That made me shake this shroud off, made me want to
fight again.
There is an old story of a donkey trapped in a well (read
here if unfamiliar-http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/stories/persistence/shake.shtml). In
that story, several times are these words repeated- “Shake it off, and take a step
up.” I loved that story as a kid and today that story and those words helped
pick myself up and truly take a step up.
While writing all of this, I considered how weak all this
must make me sound. Only to me, all of this doesn’t represent weakness. It
represents humanness, but more than that it represents growth. That’s why I
believe this was all for the best.
And now, I want to send a message to you, reading this.
If you’re like me, if you believe in honesty, hard work,
goodness and kindness. If you think there is good in everyone, if you think you
can truly change the world but have always been told you couldn’t by society
--- I have only one wish for you. I wish you keep fighting. I wish you never
lose that spark in you. People will always try to get you down, tell you that
you can’t do whatever you want to do. I wish that you shrug them off, and keep
fighting for your dreams. I wish you can shake it all off, and take a step up to
a better future. All of this is so much easier said than done (trust me, I
know.) but fight with all that is in you, and push on. The world is full of
people who are too “realistic” to see splendor in life any more. That’s why,
more than ever before, we need happiness. We need optimism. We desperately need
those crazy people who think they can change the world. We need you.
