On Character

So I've had this idea drumming around my head all this week, and I have been coming across stuff everywhere, which made me wake up today morning, wanting to write this post.

You know that everyone goes through a tough time once in a while. Do you know someone who doesn't?

Imagine these two scenarios -
There is one person who has fought very, very hard for something, fought again and again, maybe failed a few times, and yet worked day and night for that one thing, and then finally got what he/she wanted.

And then there's another person, who was naturally talented, who was always lucky, who did work for it, but then basically just got what they wanted, seemingly quite easily. Basically, the stars were in their favour. They had it good, and they had it all. Naturally gifted, intelligent, and worked just enough but nowhere near as much as the person above.

So whom would you respect more? And whose story would you want to read?

You would probably be jealous of the second person, who had it easy, but who would be the person with more character? More things learnt in life? More stories to tell? More of a backbone to fight? Clearly the first person, the one who had it tough.

It is only over the past few years that I've truly become passionate about something, discovered that there can, for all practical purposes, be a fire lit up under my ass and I could work, I could run, I could rush towards a goal. And I could be very very happy about it. I could set higher goals for myself. I could set impossible goals. And I could slog like a donkey, with sweat and tears, thanklessly, but I could. All for that one end goal.

Being ambitious does have a sinister beauty.

And until a couple of years back, I didn't know what the hell I was doing with my life. I hated studying, I hated exams. There was basically no fire. Anywhere. 

So I just wanted to say, discover your passion. Ask yourself, what do you want? If you don't have the answer, go find the answer. Go looking. When you do have the answer, set a goal. Aim for yourself. Aim very, very high. Let the world laugh. Know that nothing is impossible. Know that the beauty is in the journey to the top, and not at the top itself.

And know that even if you don't make it to the top, because we all AREN'T that lucky, you will be better for the journey. You will be better because you tried to climb, and you aimed high. Atleast you had character enough for that.

Never, ever, ever, aim low. Because then, who's going to know what you were capable of? You never let yourself find out.

Give yourself some hardship. Throw yourself into chaos. Stretch your limits. Let yourself learn, grow, take shape. Jump into the next adversity that crosses your way. (Ha! the irony). When life starts to get comfortable, remember to push yourself a little more. Demand more from yourself.

Because what is the fun in having everything handed to you on a silver platter? Your silver platter? If someone else has something else you want on their platter, try snatching. Go ahead, try it.

You never know what may land on your plate.

I'm not saying work yourself to death. I am not saying living an easy life is bad. I'm not saying kill yourself with work.

All I'm saying is once in a while, pursue your dreams. All those crazy, impossible ones. Because without that, what would be the point?

And this isn't even all about work. This could be about anything. If you love someone, jump into it, drown in it. For once, stop being cautious or practical and stop holding yourself back. Hell, having your heart broken is probably the best character-building exercise you're ever going to go through in your life. Embrace it. Embrace the heartbreak.

(At this point I may or may not sound terribly masochistic. You decide.)

If your dreams take you along a difficult path, don't drop them by the side and fall off the road. Persevere, for god's sake.

Don't forget, character, that's what you want.

This Quote - 

"Why do we even try? When the barriers are so high, and the odds are so low? Why don't we just pack it in and go home? It'd be so, so much easier...

It's because in the end, there's no glory in easy. No one remembers easy. They remember the blood, and the bones, and long, agonizing fight to the top. And that, is how you become legendary" - Grey's Anatomy, Season 11, Episode 14.

Much love, and it is great to have this blog back.

I'll get around to adding the comics. Maybe. Probably not.