What are you going to do with the rest of your life?

Sun, 07/19/2009 11:28 AM  |  Discover

This is the kind of question no one in this world could exactly answer. I find it hard too.

I first heard this phrase several years back when I bought *The Essential Barbra Streisand" (2002) album and initially, it meant nothing. But don't get me wrong here, I've always loved this song (originally sang by Ms. Streisand in 1974 for "The Way We Were", album) but it's not until yesterday, this phrase really got me and struck me to the bottom.

I am always this kind of person who loves to make plans about my future and the same kind of person who likes to sit around, envisaging every possibility in life. And moreover, pondering on what I can do better to adorn this "mundane" life of mine. And this kind of habit may not only haunt the rest of me but later it goes rampant as I persuade, turning to driving others to do what I think it's good and necessary. It's like making a campaign over *CREATING YOUR BIG DREAMS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE' - what's too late about it? It's like imposing to be heard while my life is still a zilch of interminable struggling.

I am always the one with many big dreams and that's my identity I get whenever I'm around my family, relatives and friends. Whenever they want to have somebody to talk to about wreathing their dreams, I will be their perfect partner. Because I'm always optimistic and do hold on to the faith of pursuing the dreams and the impossible. But the reality now is half the opposite. I can't continue to college and my Hollywood dreams seem so far away beyond what I can reach.

I was never been chided for my lack of conviction in life and will never be, I guess. Meanwhile my 15-year-old younger sister is more of an easy-going type. She takes life for what it is and makes a more realistic plan. She knows how to "chill" and put her feet up every now and then. One of the bad qualities I hate about myself is my occasional laziness. I can't predict when it is coming but its sudden emergence makes it unfeasible to be defeated straightforwardly. It will take tons of seconds to "recuperate" my spirit to be good to GO.

And recently, when I sat around watching a DVD (one of my favorite activities), my mom was telling off my sister to wake up from her nap and as I quote, "You should do something with your life! Do something useful. You have a whole life-span to fill and it won't get somewhere unless you start to take responsibility for your life. What do you think will happen to you in the next five or ten years?!"

Hearing the last question, I was surprised that I haven't been fully understood about the meaning of "pursuing one's dreams". It's not about exclaiming the words to the world but it's more about being brave enough to take the steep steps and dealing with risky business.

And that's exactly what I'll be doing for the rest of my life.

Yoz Tanuwiria

The writer will start his sophomore year this August

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Full conviction (not verified), jakarta — Sun, 11/08/2009 - 5:08pm

this article does make sense to me in a positive way. i think of the future plans i am pursuing now has more to deal with those little steps which big effort comes in to test me. nonetheless,great article and big thumbs up for a valuable moral of the story.

Putri Sarinande (not verified), Cirebon — Wed, 10/28/2009 - 10:29pm

all i know, dream is my biggest energy to stay alive. and yet, today's dreams are answers for tomorrow's questions (as i found a photo-quote said so..) so, i'LL keep on dreaming for the rest of my life. since nothing is impossible except eating your own head..

Cholis — Sun, 10/25/2009 - 6:14pm

cholis1987 I totally agree with your point of view regarding this topic. Once I was in a position that I thought going to university is impossible for me, then, all i could do is just dreaming that one day i could be a university student. then it revealed, after two years of uncertainty, i work and could save enough money to enroll in a university, the vision that once impossible now is real. At times our vision to the future make us active and without realizing it, we work it out!!

Isti (not verified), purbalingga — Thu, 10/15/2009 - 9:10am

that's true. we have to create a dream and try to realize our dream. nobody can help us but ourselves, right? sometimes i tell myself " c'mon, do something useful. i'll pray to God to guiode me. it works! i get success! key is the key of success!

Isaac Nyoman (not verified), jakarta — Mon, 10/05/2009 - 12:29pm

I still remembered after i graduated from senior high school, i ever visit the "fellowship gathering" which held in jambore, Cibubur. this gathering had the same topic that is "what are you going to be in the next five or ten years". Plan, we should have a plan for our life. starting from graduate from senior high school, we are mature enough to make a plan. sometimes if we confused, lets consult to our parents and senior. All our ideals, ambitions, etc should be written in dream book. its really works. i did it. For example in 2000 i should finish this, in 2005 i should have this, in 2010 i should have that. At least what we are going to do is relevant with what we are going to achieve.

Nur (not verified), Malang — Mon, 09/07/2009 - 11:14am

That's right. Never stop dreaming, the world wouldn't change without dreams. Though i can't continue my eduction in univrsty as i dreamt, now i can finance my younger brother to study at university. Never give up, just go ahead.

Alfian Yoga Prananta (not verified), Jember — Thu, 08/20/2009 - 7:52am

I can feel it, too. It's not enough indeed to have a dream unless you're willing to pursue it. Sometimes on the days of pursuit, you'll find it hard to focus on what you really want. I'm a typical of easily distracted man that focus is always my problem. Once I declared to realize a particular dream, but on the way there heaps of others shadow. Commitment is inevitably needed, but even this one can't help you enough to stay on the right track. There should be reminding of our goal everyday, to keep us alert and focus. It might simply be just songs, like you listen to, novel, movie, and sort of. Time sometimes becomes what we have to race against in the pursuit, but it can also be our best friend along the way. Of course when you're not too tight or easy with it. We have to gear up but sometimes let us have a good recuperation and rest to evaluate what we've done so far. It matters, too. Finally, the only one who could staunch our steps to success and at once could perfectly commit to go on is ourselves. Get going and keep going. Let's hit the road, jack!!

Tri arjuna (not verified), jogjakarta — Sat, 07/25/2009 - 12:46pm

i think i amin the same position with you. but i just believe that i can get what be my ideal and dream. for instance, i came from a low incame family in the very remote vilage in the inland of kalimantan, but i am persuing doctoral degree now. and this time i am sitting in the program. i still have a bigger dream and still persuing it with faith that in the end sure i will get there. keep moving..

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