What if the path we think we’re meant to be living isn’t our path at all?

Most of us are gambling on the biggest risk of all—the bet that “someday” we can buy the freedom to do what we really want in life, after we’ve made enough money or pleased enough people. I may be young (22) but there’s one thing I know for sure: we’re all going to die, and usually sooner than we believe to be true.

So why not take a risk and live now?

For most of my life I didn’t “live it.” I did what everyone wanted me to do—what was normal and culturally accepted. And many of us do this: we can memorize inspirational quotes, give advice, talk about how anything is possible and yet we’re living just a fraction of our capabilities.

I believe that “living it,” means that we find meaning in life by striving to make a difference, taking chances and being different. We crave certainty, to know everything. But the truth is we know very much—we’re on some rock flying through space, we’re born and we die.

And some stuff happens in between that we can’t quite explain.

Feeling unsure and scared is part of life, and we must take action anyways. Life is not about arriving at the finish line with our well-preserved body that avoided risks, wondering “what could have been…” but instead to meet death with exhaustion, with a smile of fulfillment, knowing that while we only live once, one time was good enough for us.

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Assistant Editor: Terri Tremblett/ Editor: Rachel Nussbaum

{Photo: Flickr}