When we look back at our lives, we find that so many of our wonderful dreams have remained dreams only. We have not been able to realise our dreams. In many cases we have not even tried to achieve them.
If God gives us a chance to live our lives again, what would our life be like? Would it be better than our first innings? Would we achieve more? Would we become better human beings? Most of us would agree that if we are given another chance, our second innings would be better than this one. We would be better human beings, achieve many more goals, and reach far greater heights. We would be able to fulfil many of our unfulfilled dreams. A question arises as to why is it so? Why is it that we failed to achieve our goals? Why is it that we even failed to try? This is because we fail to do many things out of fear of failure and fear of ridicule. We are just too scared to step out of our comfort zone. It is said that even eagles need a push. The baby eagle who is ready to fly, but afraid of it, is literally pushed out of its comfort zone of the nest by the mother. It is only when it is pushed out, the baby eagle realises the power of its own wings and soars to great heights in the wide open sky. We must also learn to step out from our comfort zone. It is only then we will realise these dreams. I love this quote by R.L. Stevenson, which is my favourite.
“Twenty year from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do. So,throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
How true are these words! One cannot succeed without trying. We may lose. But it is “better to have loved and lost” than to have never loved at all. As it is aptly said, “A ship is safe in the harbour but that is not what it is meant for!” Friends, we have to dream, lift our anchors, and sail the high seas ( nay, rough seas) to achieve our dreams. We may have to face gales and storms, high winds, and rains. There is no option but to sail and overcome all these to achieve our dreams.
There are some interesting things about sailing. I did not know until I tried my hands at sailing, that a good sailor can sail in any direction, no matter from where the wind is blowing. Even when he wants to go in a direction directly from where the wind is blowing, he can always zigzag his way to the desired destination! In the words of Edward Gibbon, “the winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.” We have to be ablest navigators in this sea of life and reach our destination, realise our dreams. We should firmly believe that “It is not over until win!”
And have we not watched with baited breath the yachts racing, tilted at an impossible angle. My God! It is so scary to be in that yacht at that time. But, here too, experienced sailors tell us that if you feel too scared, just let go off the ropes! The yacht will at once come to a balanced even keel and you will be safe. So it is with life. If we are too scared we have just to let go off everything and trust in God. He will take care of us. He will see that our ship does not tilt over and we are not dumped into the sea. God is always there to look after us!
We have to be adventurous, learn to take risks, and chances. After all, if nothing is ventured, nothing will be gained. As Andre Gide puts it, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. We just cannot sit on the shore of a river, afraid to step into the waters, and expect to cross the river.”
So friends, we shall dream, dream of reaching great heights. We shall never be afraid of failure and we shall put in our best. It is only if we try our best, put our best foot forward that we will be able to achieve our goals, and fulfil our dreams. It is our duty to be what we are capable of being. The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we become, and what we are really capable of becoming.
“It is not enough to have lived. Be determined to live for something”.
– William Arthur Ward
