Reflecting on Last 16 years of being alive.
👋 Abd here, Welcome to Another issue of “Letters On living” Main series where we dive deep on how to live a life you don’t regret on your deathbed.
I Recently Turned 16.
Looking back, I could tell my 13-year-old self what the next 3 years would look like, and he wouldn't believe it.
It's been a journey so picture-perfect that I sometimes wonder how I deserve this.
How could all those stars align, making me who I am today - someone I'm really proud of?
This is a reflection on the past 16 year of my life and the lessons I learned along the way.
* * *
Life, in its beautiful chaos, rarely follows our carefully crafted plans. It has shown us multiple times that some of the best moments weren't penned down in our planner.
Society and culture often push us towards a structured path: college, job, marriage, retirement savings. While that's not inherently bad, there are millions of ways life can unfold. Being too rigid with a plan just because it's safe doesn't make much sense, at least not to me.
It's not about making money or quitting your job. It's about:
Not being so rigid with plans
Letting life happen
Trying new things.
letting go of things, no longer serving you
Most people wear a mask, carefully crafted to meet others' expectations, often without realizing it. I don't want to be one of those.
I want to live authentically:
Write if my soul yearns to, even if others push me towards more "practical" pursuits
Love who I love, without fear or shame
Speak my mind, even when my voice shakes
The world doesn't need another cookie-cutter individual; it needs me, in all my unique, quirky, wonderful glory. At the end of my journey, I'll answer to myself, not to the chorus of voices that tried to mold me. I want to look back and feel proud that I lived a life that was truly mine.
While it's important to learn from others, the path to self-discovery and fulfillment often diverges from the well-trodden road. This idea resonates with existentialist philosophy, which emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. As Jean-Paul Sartre posited, "Existence precedes essence" - we are not defined by predetermined categories or societal expectations, but by the choices we make and the actions we take.
Blindly following trends or popular opinions can lead to what Martin Heidegger called "inauthenticity" - a state where one loses touch with their true self, becoming absorbed in the collective "they" of society. Instead, we must strive for "authenticity" by critically examining our beliefs, values, and aspirations.
Trusting your instincts and forging your own path is not just about personal fulfillment; it's about embracing the responsibility that comes with freedom. As Friedrich Nietzsche encouraged, we should strive to become the "Übermensch" or "Superman" - not in a literal sense, but as individuals who create their own values and meaning in life, rising above societal constraints and expectations. In charting our own course, we not only discover our true passions and goals but also contribute to the rich tapestry of human experience and innovation.
Your Friend,
~ Abd Sid
Really well said! As life keeps changing we often forget how much of our younger self dreams we've actually accomplished. We are so focused on the next goals we forget to reflect and appreciate on how far we've come. But as you said, the key to success is to keep creating goals and ambitions that fit our criterion for success regardless of what societal expectations are.