The funny thing about life is that we often let our social image drive our decisions, rather than our own desires. What I mean is that we do what we can to avoid judgment in favor of love. Problem is, what is worthy of judgment and worthy of love vary on an individual level as well as a cultural level. Therefore, we can never fully win if the game is to please the world.
So, what we typically do is we do our best to appease the people we love most, as well as the current societal standard of "cool, sexy, and appropriate."
If our mom doesn't believe in not going to college, even if our hearts are set on going a different path, we likely go to college.
If dad doesn't believe in going with the flow, but instead mega-pragmatism and hyper risk management, well, we ditch our natural desire to be in flow and force ourselves into dad's preferred view of risk prevention.
And, as for society, we wear the clothes that are in style, we choose the general path that the majority chooses, and we pretend like we're happy when we're not.
This is all a fair way of living life. We want to be accepted by our loved ones. We want to be accepted by the world. The easiest way to be accepted is to do what others will accept, or what we perceive they will accept.
However, something starts to happen over time, the longer we deny our own desires and true nature. We start to feel empty. We start feeling like something is not right. A lack of fulfillment is what most would call this. Or said another way, living someone's else life instead of your own.
The reality is, when someone walks the path of doing what others will accept, you risk walking down a path towards a life you don't want.
Put it this way, if you want to go to Disneyland, but society only accepts people who go to Prison, you will walk towards Prison for the illusion of acceptance.
Then, when you get to Prison and receive a false sense of acceptance, you realize that you'd rather be at Disneyland and judged than be at Prison and loved.
Why? Cause in your core you want Disneyland.
Now, replace Disneyland with your hopes and dreams. And replace Prison with a life you hate.
This is what's at stake.
Here's the good news, if you are walking towards Prison, you have full authority to turn around and go towards Disneyland at any time you want. Here's the bad news, you'll have to risk the illusion of love and acceptance from others.
But, REMEMBER, you are currently sacrificing your hopes and dreams in favor of others' love.
And...in all likelihood, if you follow through with getting to Prison, you'll realize that although having love and acceptance is nice...you hate your life 99% of the time in Prison.
So...knowing this...you can either wait til you get to Prison and find out then, after you spent half your life getting there.
Or, you can bite the fucking bullet asap, see where this is all heading, and turn around towards your dreams.
And here's the thing...you'll STILL be accepted and loved by a SHIT ton of people going to Disneyland. AND you'll also be judged as well.
BUT, unlike Prison, you'll be happy 99% of the time in Disneyland because that's where you truly want to be, despite being judged 1% of the time.
Again, let me reiterate, this is not an easy decision to make. The sense of risk and fear that comes with choosing against the norm is scary as fuck at first. It is the ultimate risk of security. Uncertainty at its finest.
But...I can attest from experience, that walking towards Disneyland is fulfilling as fuck. You get used to the notion that others probably judge you and hate you sometimes. But, equally, you also get used to others loving you and appreciating you for walking your truth.
So...no pressure, it's all going to work out either way.
The question is really, when will you turn around?
In any case, Disneyland awaits you. I promise you it's worth it.
It is, after all, the happiest place on earth.
With love,
Gabriel Santos
