If you had a ticket to your dreams, would you follow it?
After finishing the book A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, I was left with a debated thought in my mind. The book, based on a murder in 1906, ended with the main character Mattie, leaving her home to go to college in New York City. This left me confused or perhaps saddened by the fact that she left all her family behind without a true goodbye. Going to college was Mattie's dream throughout the book and was partially what the story revolved around but the ending seemed a bit depressing even though she achieved what she wanted all along. Thinking about whether or not I would do the same if I were her, this is what today's blog will be about.
Choosing between a future wanted for so long and leaving the only familiar past is a choice that seems impossible. Mattie did just that though, leaving behind her sisters, father, past fiance, childhood friend, home, and practically everything, to pursue a dream with no guarantees. For me, I would probably spend my entire life debating the two choices and at the end, would still have no idea what I should have chosen. That is because of the deadly word "if". If this...If that..., If people keep saying "if" to every choice, no answer would ever be come up with. Risk is everywhere, but to do something, it has to be taken. If a choice has no risk, it isn't worth choosing because the only reason there would be no risk, no "ifs", would be because the outcome of the choice would be as stagnant as if a choice was never given.
There is nothing wrong with thinking about "ifs" as long as those two letters don't stop someone from doing what they need to do. But what if those horrible "ifs" came true? Well, the truth is there isn't anything that can be done if something ends bad. It wouldn't be any one's fault and there would be no reason as to why it happened other than it just did. Of course, people could just forget about their dreams so there would be no "if" but what is life without overcoming "if"? People should stop thinking about "ifs" in a negative perspective and use them to help accomplish goals instead. There are always two sides, good and bad, but it is the person's choice of which way to think in and that strongly impacts the outcome of whichever choice they make.
No future is obvious (in general) but what is, is that if someone got stuck with ifs for every choice or challenge that met them in life, one sure thing will result: failure, and if one really wishes to meet no risks, failure certainly has none.
Please feel free to comment.
Really fantastic blog post, Bridget!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a really interesting and difficult concept to think about -- "ifs". If you think about it, our entire lives are made up of "ifs". Every day, we have to choose between two or more things, even though they're not always important as the conflict Mattie went through. Like you said, if we spent so much time thinking about which ones to choose, we wouldn't accomplish anything -- good or bad. Sometimes you'll make a good decision, and sometimes you'll make a bad one, but I think the most important part is that you make one. :)
Hi! Your blog post was really good. I do agree with the concept that the future hold a lot of "ifs." The choices that we have to make do always rise a lot of questions, before, during, and after we make them. But you said that if someone is stuck with "ifs" for the rest of one's life, they will meet failure. I don't think that's necessary true. You might never know if one of your "ifs" could become a success. Though, great post. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is important not to look back, because a lot of the time, once you have made a decision you can't go back. Sometimes people spend their lives thinking about what could have happened at a certain point in their lives, but I think it is best not to dwell on things you can't fix or change.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your concept that the future is made of "ifs". They fill our lives, and we encounter them every moment of every day. I think that "ifs" are good, but that we shouldn't dwell on them. We make the decisions we make and they will impact our lives greatly– either in a good way or a bad way. The important We should just live life as it happens, making decisions we think are right at the moment, and pay attention to the important and wonderful events that surround us. Again, great post! You're an amazing writer!