Our Goals and What Matters

Do you know what's the most dangerous thought to harbor in this short, unpredictable life? It's the belief that time is our most valuable resource because it's limited. This mindset can prevent you from learning important lessons. We already know that life is short, and time can't be reversed or reclaimed. So why do we obsess over time itself and judge ourselves daily on how we spend it?

Now, think of time as money. Saving money is important, especially for rainy days. But because we don't know when or how those rainy days will come, some of us become overly thrifty, while others throw caution to the wind and spend however they want. Both approaches miss the point of valuing these resources. 

We could be mindful of how we spend our time. However, because we can't predict when or how these challenging times will occur, people often react in extreme ways. Some become overly cautious and hoard their resources, while others disregard the future and spend freely. The key idea here is that both extremes miss the true value of these resources—whether time or money. Instead of obsessively saving or carelessly spending, we should strive to find a balanced approach that allows us to prepare for the future while still enjoying and making the most of the present.

We all have a destination in mind—a vision of our future selves—and we take careful, calculated steps to reach that destination. But in doing so, the journey gets compromised. We curate our lives to fit how we think they'll lead us to that future, which adds unnecessary stress and keeps us focused on the future rather than fully living in the present.

Yes, having a goal makes the future less uncertain, but what happens to the journey? How can we embrace the "now" and give it a fair chance if we're always preoccupied with planning for the future? When you watch road trip movies, are you more interested in the characters' destination, or in how they navigate the hurdles along the way? Most of us enjoy watching how the characters face challenges and find contentment in the journey itself, with the people they're traveling with. And honestly, that's where I messed up in my teens and twenties. I spent too much time complaining, worrying, and moping instead of fighting, staying open-minded, and being content with the path I was on. A lot of my anxiety comes from past traumas, but those aren't excuses or barriers to progress.

My new focus is to be genuine and sincere in the journey I'm on, to give it a fair fight, and to keep learning. It's okay if the world looks down on you—just rise above it on your big white surfboard. Ride the waves. If they crash, get wet, get cool underwater. Whether it's a rainy day or a sunny one, keep your head above water and your surfboard with you, and just keep riding.