Words That Matters

I will be presenting two scenarios before you guys; just let me know which one is more satisfying. First of all, you have a plan for yourself, but your closest people restrict you from chasing that, thinking that you won't be able to succeed and sending you somewhere else that you might not enjoy. Secondly, you chase after your desire and hobbies, and you might fail somehow, but you did enjoy the journey as it is pleasing to you. What's the best way to pick?

I am from a conservative family, but they have given me enough restrictions for me to fly in the open sky. It's true that they have set some limits too, but all it was for my safety so that I don't get lost. With time they had expanded the limits and let me fly limitless when it was required to do so. During teenage, youth, and adulthood, I have just stepped in. I got to experience lots of things in my life, and many more are yet to come.

During those phases, I saw my companions and friends that were in the same race as me getting restricted and influenced by their families and other guardians in many ways; some were forced to go against their will and chase something that was never an option for them. Yeah, many of them succeeded, but only some are satisfied. There is always a regret that haunts them about what had happened if they had the opportunity to chase their interest and try out the path they had thought to be exciting. They can't because it's too late to start again from there, things are not the same. In my scenario, I was never restricted; my family has always asked me what I felt about the path and what I was willing to chase. Never forced their thoughts on me to follow against my willingness.

📸 Alexandra

More specifically, my family has always told me, "Do what you feel is the best for you. Your life, so you better understand what is suitable, we can give our opinions, but you are to decide because ultimately it's you with the consequences. Just be careful about not doing anything which might bring disgrace to the family."

What more can I ask from them? They have given me the freedom to chase what's best for me. Now the question might arise of how I would know what's actually good or not for me if they don't interfere. They did, maybe not directly but indirectly, from my childhood. They have taught me the differences between good and bad and showed me the aspects of life. For anyone, family plays a vital role in learning etiquette and manners, and they shape us ahead. So did mine; they knew me and let me fly as they had confidence in me.

After completing college, I was standing before a huge decision on how to start my journey toward the graduation race. Yeah, we had to sit for admission tests to get enrolled in our desired universities, for the renowned ones actually. My family gave me the freedom to choose the best path for me to proceed; they didn't interfere with my decision. To be honest, I encountered failure and didn't get what I wanted. Was my decision wrong? What if I had chased something with their opinions and encountered the same failure? Let me demonstrate the situation. I would have regretted not trying what I was interested in, might curse them for interrupting my way, and might not get the satisfaction even after being a failure. I have tried my best in what I was interested in. So yeah, no regrets. Isn't it the best way to go?

Even today, I am pursuing what I felt right for me, rowing against the tide, not following the crowd. I do have a strong feeling that this is the way for me; I have to go till the end to find the ultimate reward for me, whether it's a ZERO or a MILLION, I don't care about the consequence. There were many other actions of mine that were influenced by that one line, "Don't do anything that brings disgrace to the family." and I promised myself not to let anything like that happen.

These are not just a few words from them; the ultimate freedom to handle my life as I please with a little bit of limitation to be cautious about their possible outcomes. I am grateful to them, and that's why my family has always been at the top of my priority list, no matter what's on my way.

Check out this week's Creative Nonfiction in The Ink Well: Prompt #19