Pilgrim's Paradise

Good morning! It's fairly overcast and warm right now but I have no doubt that the sun will come out and play in a few hours. I asked the two friends sitting in front of me for a topic and one of them said, "death" and the other, "taxes". So I guess I will be writing about the only two things in life that are sure, death and taxes.

First of all, it is one of the best Daniel Caesar songs and you can't tell me otherwise because you've probably only listened to Freudian, which is a beautiful album but also fairly mainstream now. He is a wonderful artist and his work before his breakthrough album are arguably better and more profound than his newly released songs. Anyways, back to death and taxes. 

Spoiler alert, I am going to die someday. You will die someday too and we'll never know when, how, or where it will happen; all we know is that it will. And that is okay! In the midst of the uncertainty in our life, it is somewhat comforting and obviously scary to know that we won't be living here forever. Our inevitable death can either scare us or (as cliché as it sounds) motivate us to live our life to the fullest. 

You know how some people say that life is short, so just do whatever you want? Also popularly known as YOLO (You Only Live Once). Well, we do only live once but barring any sudden and unexpected accident or tragedy, we live for a pretty long time. I am 17 years old right now and I feel like I have lived 3 years in the past few months of 2019. Life is filled with days that feel like forever and years that feel like lifetimes. We are going to die one day but hopefully, that day is nowhere near anytime soon, so where's the need to rush? Taking risks and seizing opportunities should be a given but we shouldn't be discouraged if it doesn't go our way. We literally have the rest of our lives to have it figured out and to my knowledge, no one ever really figures it out. They grow as they go but they never stop, they never settle. 

Taxes are the things that we must sacrifice on the way to our inevitable departure from this world. It is the rocky and dangerous path in the forest that leads to the only 320 bus stop in the area, the only way to get home. Taxes like death, are also guaranteed but that's okay. Because what good would our wealth be if we did not invest in things that could increase it? What good would our talents be if we kept it hidden, stored away rather than sharing it to the world? What good would our lives be if we did not seek and search for our joys, rather than waiting for it to somehow, someway find its way to us. 

I am scared of dying but I am more afraid of never truly living. 

I am reluctant to pay my taxes and my dues but I am more hesitant to be satisfied with what I have rather than dreaming and desiring more. 

Sacrifice is a scary thing. Whether it be my time, my money or even my talents, it is always terrifying to place a piece of your life in someone else's, because what if they denied it or more importantly, were overwhelmed by it? The last thing I want to be is a burden and that fear of inadequacy to someone else ultimately hinders my ability to truly love. 

This is when I remember that I am going to die one day. I am going to leave this world and enter a new one eventually. So why not give until it hurts? Why not sacrifice my comfort and insecurities for the sake of loving those around me with authenticity and joy. 

Life is a long, winding road that is coupled with summits and rock-bottoms; offering the same gift which is growth. I can see the end of the path but not what lies in between. That is both terrifying and unsettling but I am going to press on regardless. And before I know it - my eyes will close and I will be Home.

Surely we'll live to see the day When all of our problems, they fade away

AMDG