Katrina Yu But all these realizations, Margie, are acquired from a lot of heartaches and failures. Such is life, isn't it?
Margie Yes. But we are in it for the long haul. And I can assure you that things can get so much better after the storms of life. Total happiness can abound.
PaweΕ Kadysz Shouldn't this realization come after you get the fame and money? Isn't saying that before just giving up?
Margie Maybe just keeping things in perspective is a way to put it.
Katrina Yu I didn't give up, but I'm also not saying that I'm super famous/beautiful/rich.
Sure you can always go after them - all of the three. But until when you'll feel that you've reached the pinnacle of it? The irony is that for us humans it's never enough. Earning 6 figures is never enough, xxxx followers are never enough, I'm not thin enough etc.
There will always be someone more famous, more beautiful, more money than you.
Chasing after these will just bring endless insecurities and disappointment.
To know that you are contented, at peace, and actually love what you are doing (you do things for yourself, not for the thumbs-up) then the fame won't matter. Looks won't matter. Money won't matter.
Exuding contentment attracts people, unknowingly. People will be curious what makes you so. There is your fame.
Radiating peace & happiness makes you very attractive. (There are studies that cite that happiness is the most attractive quality in a person). People who are happy looks really peaceful and calm. And that is beautiful, age has nothing to do with it.
Money? For what? To buy things we actually don't need to please people we don't like? That emptiness inside of us is not something money can fill. People are starting to realize this that's why minimalistic lifestyle is trending (decluttering, throwing out things you don't need etc. So many books are written about something so simple).
People always think that they need to achieve something first in order to be happy. Aren't we happy already from the moment we were born? Children are the happiest human beings, it's society's expectations and standards that made us these ugly creatures inside. It's these expectations that had us thinking we need to be someone, something to get fulfilled. But aren't we being too hard on ourselves? Do we really need all of those things?
Yet all of these are just words. To realize this you need to experience it yourself.
HAHAHA, I MUST BE FUN AT PARTIES.
I can talk about memes too.
Margie "There will always be someone more famous, more beautiful, more money than you." I was very interested to find this in your writing because they are almost exactly the same words I thought of often when tempted to become competitive in career aspirations, acquisition of stuff, etc. It is normal at certain stages of our lives to be individually achievement oriented in different ways, but that we do for ourselves and not in comparison to others.
Katrina Yu Hi Margie :)
I totally agree with what you've written.
Isn't there a saying that says "compare and despair"? It has stuck with me since then. I always tell myself that comparing serves no purpose except disappoint because everyone comes from different situations and I don't know how hard they've worked to be where they are at currently. Better to spend that energy on oneself than feeling sorry. Have a great week ahead of you!! π
Katrina Yu Thank you so much, Jewels. Happy that you're able to see what I'm trying to send across. It makes me so happy!
Also, I really love that quote you share. Let me pair it with one from E.E. Cummings:
βTo be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.β
May we grow into our best self possible!! :)
Kateli
Being oneself and pursuing your own road is something difficult but also fulfilling. One shouldn't care too much or at all about what others think. It's very difficult but if you manage... you're free !!! Or are you ???
Love the photo ! And I love the way your art is beautiful but not only, it's philosophical too !!! <3 <3 <3
Katrina Yu
Free, I think most definitely. ;)
We're struggling because we care too much of how society thinks of us that we end up molding ourselves adhering to certain standards. Once we let go of those expectations, that weren't ours to begin with, I think it's definitely freeing!
Thank you so much, Kate!! Love your thoughts on this frame and of course, I'm really happy that you're able to see something in it. β€οΈβ€οΈ
Margie A wise realization, especially for one your age.