Planning for the future
My strongest struggle with myself is staying one step ahead of myself. It may sound weird, but I feel like I’m constantly in a race with myself – jumping time and space, making sure that my future self is taken care of. Does that even make sense?
Anyways, today I was chatting with one my closest friends online and he asked me, ‘What does the future look like to you.” My answer was prompt. “my future is vibrant, happy, colorful and content. it involves lots of travel, considerable wealth and lots of time with family and friends.” After I had typed it, I realized what a cliche I had become. All my life, I tried to let my ambition outshine my own brillaince. But when it came down to it, I do not want an extraordinary life – or I do, but I think that normal is extraordinary.
On Monday, I think I took a big step towards my career. I’ve applied for an evening program at a local school that I beleive will be instrumental in helping me shape my future. I am in a state of anxiety. Its like waiting for judgement day. But inshallah – I’ve done my best, overextended myself and am now hoping for the very best.
As anxious I am about our current economy, I’m excited to see what will come out of it. I know a lot of talented young people who have lost their jobs in this downturn – but I’m consistently impressed with their efforts to take control of the situation and continue to innovate themselves and their careers.
What do you think? What does your future look like to you?
05/03/2009 at 5:54 pm Permalink
Great post Jinal.With regards to your previous one about the perceived “bad luck” that graduates from the classes of 2008 & 2009 have, I think this downturn provides us with a very valuable resource: time. The time to really explore our desired career paths, to develop a clearer vision for the future and to re-evaluate our priorities.
Things will get better, here in America and everywhere else in the world, and this period of relative uncertainty will prove to be a blessing in disguise. To answer your question, the future looks bright. Very bright. I also foresee success, wealth and most importantly, lots of quality time with family and friends.
09/03/2009 at 9:22 am Permalink
Hi Jimmy – Thats what I like to hear. A bright future. I agree with you – I’ve seen people push the boundaries of their own talents, ambitions and resourcefulness during these hard times. I don’t think a strong economy would have pushed them to bring out the very best in them. Good luck to us all!
11/03/2009 at 5:13 am Permalink
Hi. Just landed on your blog by chance while surfing randomly. Well, in my case I think whenever I have planned anything, it had not happen! So, I have stopped planning for future now.
11/03/2009 at 9:51 am Permalink
Hi Kanupriya –
Not planning sounds scary to me but you are right, sometimes you’ve gotta life play itself out.
13/03/2009 at 12:21 pm Permalink
I am admiring and envious of your instinctive energy, enthusiasm and sense of purpose. They indicate a trust in the both the world and yourself; I think such trust is, to a large – but uncertain – extent, self-fulfilling. These qualities seem to be almost inherently satisfying, although the odd moment of reflection away from them is healthy too. For me the constant self-questioning is instinctive, the confident, purposeful action occasional.
20/03/2009 at 6:49 am Permalink
Does it also include finacial future ?
Manish