If you use any form of social media and you follow any page that shares meaningful life quotes, at this point Tiny Buddha has probably come across your screen. Before writing this piece, I actually decided to look up and see the mind behind these posts - turns out there was a whole website I didn't even know about - including a book series. A single individual is inspiring people like myself every day while I'm thinking Tiny Buddha was some cooperate, social media group run by various individuals. It kinda fits the reason why I wanted to even write today.
It's rainy and gloomy.
My seasonal depression thrives on these days.
Even in moments where I feel perfectly fine, I can feel them looming in the back of my head.
Especially on days like this.
So Tiny Buddha called out to me and I chose to write. Let's see where it takes us.
The quote that inspired this piece says, "Maybe your life purpose isn't supposed to be a thrill-seeking narrative. What if you're meant to be the sunshine to someone's stormy day? Or the voice of clarity to a frantic mind? You don't have to be a superhero to save the world." I came across this quote yesterday and 24 hours later, it is still on my mind. Being 25 in today's society is beyond frustrating. Well. Let me rephrase that. Being a human of any age that is of an eligible age to work is beyond frustrating. Over the years, we have created a society that the main point of being alive is to work. As soon as you are out of the womb, people are making remarks about what you will be when you grow up. I have a video of me in the delivery room and a relative on the tape states, "He is going to be a great piano player someday, look at those long fingers. Oh and look at those legs, he will definitely love playing soccer!" Ironically, I did both as a young child and did not carry either of those hobbies out for very long. As early as grade school, you are asked to write, draw, and read about what you want to be when you grow up - as if the only reason school exists beyond fourth grade is because we are being raised to work for the rest of our lives.
(I think it is important to note at this point that I have restarted this next paragraph five times now as I am struggling to find words for how I feel). I struggle daily to find the words why this all frustrates me. I mean, I am 25 years old and I have a Bachelor's degree - shouldn't I have some idea of what I want to do as a career path at this point? I think the problem is that I, like others, set the bar so high. I want what I do to be earth-shattering and something that saves the world. I want what I do to be remembered by generations to come. When I pass away, I want people to remember what I did in this world. But when I have days like this, I have to remember that what I am doing is important to me and that's what matters. Because you never know who is silently watching you. You never know who's life you are impacting. There is an individual out there that is single-handedly running Tiny Buddha and creating and sharing life quotes that impact my life throughout the week. And they aren't trying to, they just are because these life lessons are what matter to them.
Most days, after I have woken up, I want to do everything in the world, and I also want to do nothing at all. I want to create every idea that is in my head and I also just want to play Animal Crossing or Skyrim on my Nintendo Switch all day long. Quarantine makes life such a whirlwind as our days blend together. Giving us the motivation to try new things and also taking away motivation to do anything at all as we spend day after day in our homes. But what we do from day-to-day is not as important as who we are from day-to-day. Each day that we get up and do one thing is another day where we might inspire those around us to do the same. Getting out of bed and showering isn't earth-shattering, nor is it a thrill-seeking narrative, and it also inspires someone else in your world to do, at minimum, the same thing for themselves.
If you are someone who is alone during this quarantine, my heart goes out to you. Please know that, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, you are not alone. Take time today or tomorrow to reach out to one person that means a lot to you. You don't have to talk for long nor do you have to go into depth about how you may be feeling, but reach out and say hello. You doing that may positively impact their day in a way you never expected.
Riley Jay (he/him/his)