Second Thoughts

Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you.

When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are.

The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you.

You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.

—

Bob Marley

I must be turning cynical…whenever I read idealistic stuff like this, I think that it’s just impractical and only achieveable for maybe 1% of the population who are ‘untainted’ enough by the world, to be able to go on believing in their idealistic dreams and to actually bring those dreams to realisation, people who will not settle for less.

Unfortunately most of us do…and I’m not just referring to lover/partners, but everything. I feel the same way when I read the deluge of Steve Jobs quotes lately…Inspiriing, yes, but how many of us are going to do things differently after hearing his words? He was a visionary. More importantly, he was committed to his dreams. He was also talented and intelligent and lucky enough to achieve them. He had the right people by his side to help him. How many people can say they have all these things as well? This is why geniuses and billionaires and visionaries and great artists are still exceptional, not common.

I think the truth is, not everyone can set out to be all they wanna be, no matter how hard they try. Not to take this as an excuse to not try our best, but I think telling people, “You can be anything you want,” can be just as harmful as telling them, “You can’t do anything”. You end up with a lot of disillusioned young people with low self-esteem.