Sprinting

Sprinting: Pause for Breaks

 

 

It is very easy to forget about (or it may just be the human nature to be selfish)how other people feel, and I inadvertently make decision based on just steering the maximum benefit for myself. My decision making process has been centered in finding ways that will improve and advance myself, constantly raising the question-What can I do to get the immediate, tangible returns or gratitude? However, this does not necessarily mean that my actions caused any harm to those around me, but my priorities or values may not always have aligned with those of others.

Looking back...
I was a very goal-driven person. I have spent ten years trying to get good grades as a student. I have spent three years trying to advance my career and find a good job. Whatever resources I was given, I tried to use that resources, whether it be knowledge, skills, or experiences... to step up and complete more sophisticated processes in life. That was what made me happy, and I thought expanding my experience and honing my skills will ultimately lead to successful life/happiness. I was constantly running around, not allowing myself to pause for a deep breather. It did give me gratitude whenever I attained my goals of getting good grades, buying my first car, switching to a more secure job, etc. It also gave me the confidence that I could achieve more and also helped me experience the pride through these achievements.

Later, I realized that I was running with a blinder around myself where I would just keep on running towards my goal and forget to look around what's surrounding me. When I looked back to my middle school days, I had numerous memories that made me smile. However, as I grew older and became my high school student, college student, grad student, working person, I could not recall too many memorable fun times. Little did I know that it was driving me over a precipitous cliff towards emptiness and unhappiness.


I have limited resources including time, energy, family/friends, wealth, and talent. I have learned to allocate and devote these resources to attain the ultimate happiness in life. I learned that there are different dimensions to happiness than just advancing my career, being recognized in community, etc. I will have to make sure I pause to make sure that my selfishness or outside factors does not affect my decision or take me off course from my initial goal of happiness. Because successful life is not always earning multiple degrees, having high paying job, winning awards. I have to make sure my checkpoints for happy life is met: spend quality time with my family, have a happy marriage with husband, eat delicious food, travel and explore new places, etc.