I am a pillion rider, I hate my existence.
When you get excited about something, there is always a reference to what gets you excited about that something. There’s a reference that helps you to curate your excitement in a much better way. Whatever you see around in your world or let’s say whatever you get exposed to in your world is mostly something that you wish to pursue. The closest example is clicking selfies or playing Candy Crush or shopping for a certain luxury brand. You literally saw the world around you doing it, you experienced it yourself and now you wish to inculcate them in your lifestyle.
Now, take this imagination a step ahead and address the larger elephant in the room — the career/passion side of the spectrum. Actually, the reference bit did wonders for you when you were a teenager like when you were super expressive about what you wish to do when you’d be a big man/woman, and this wish might change several times basis how well you’re exposed to the world. But as you come of age and choose your *drum rolls* destiny (this is such a heavy word), most of us just want to live by it every day, just like a pillion rider.
Just like a pillion rider, most of us are sailing through heavy traffic expecting to reach a certain destination, a destination that might or might not resonate with your ‘super expressive’ teenage vows. And to be fair, while this is an easy statement to make, we all have every reason in the world to be that pillion rider.
Let’s begin with societal influence. The world’s functioning in a certain way, as reprimanded by our ancestors and destined by a handful influencers and go-getters. But beyond lauding those influencers and go-getters, their will and achievement to be where ever they stand, do we really build ourselves or think through about being one of them? Hell yeah, we do! We rigorously think about this 24x7, we think about how we’d function if we were in that position and most importantly how we’d correct the ‘wrong’ that they are up to. Alas! Not a lot of us go beyond just ‘thinking’ about it.
Why?
A beautiful phrase called ‘Comfort zone’. Heard about it? Of course, you crave for it. It’s always good to be in your ‘comfort zone’. But not when you live in that cocoon forever. And especially if you’re comfortable being a pillion rider. It clearly isn’t letting you explore what you could actually achieve in your life. Not that you know how far you could go with this ‘achievement’ bit but I strongly believe every individual can rule the world, i.e. if they really want to!
A couple of years back, I had this experience where I was asked to cherish my comfort zone. Like when I raised an opinion about attempting an unconventional effort within the industry I work for which is not what we usually adhere to, I was called an ‘opportunist’ and a simple question that I failed to answer — ‘what is my intent?’
Now, these people ain’t wrong when they call me one. Of course, I am an opportunist. Why wouldn’t I be one? When you see there is scope for something to be done which was never attempted before, why wouldn’t you call it out? Wouldn’t that let you take the rider seat? Wouldn’t that let you build yourself a new experience for the world you live in and of course your own self?
Aaah! But there’s no point ranting about it. Eventually, all that matters is what you’ve actually done… They say the journey is important. I’d say it is important when you’re on a vacation :p
All that matters is 1. Objective and 2. Objective Achieved. Anything in between is important but would not really matter in the end. Disclaimer: ‘Anything in-between’ should always be within the legal spectrum and you shouldn’t adhere to wrong practices.
Try thinking beyond what the world is thinking right now. 99 out of 100 times it might be weird, repressive, and herculean. But 1 out of 100 times it’s going to give you an expression of a lifetime.
After all, I am a pillion rider and I do not wish to love my existence.
