Life is made a beautiful journey by the experiences that we have. These are the moments that enrich our lives in a way that makes it not only worth living but also teach us to take everything in our stride, whether good or bad and move ahead in life. One of the most essential skills that has helped me to develop a whole new outlook to my surroundings is acceptance . Acceptance of the things the way they are; acceptance of my own shortcomings and that of others as well. Often it is the approach and not the solution itself that can help to solve problems.
One of the most significant moments of my life was the decision of opting to study abroad which, I believe, was also one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever taken. The prospect of having to leave my home, family, friends and everything that I truly love, behind me and go far away, was a scary prospect in itself. But the strong urge to follow my dreams and the support of my family helped to take the leap. From the start I knew that the transition was not going to be easy and I must ready myself to adjust to the new environment. Days spent in contemplation and and trying to gauge the future in store for me finally brought me to the time when I finally had to embark on the journey to the place that would be my home for the next few years to come. By that time I was able to compose my mind, and was ready to face what may come ahead of me.
The semester progressed and a deep liking for the place set in my heart. But soon I realised that although things seemed to be on the brighter side, I had still not adjusted well in my new surroundings. Being extremely caught up in the academic curriculum had made me push back everything else. I hardly had anyone to talk to, apart from those with whom I worked on certain assignments. Loneliness had started to set its roots. Maybe, my reality was not as beautiful as I had imagined it to be.. My performance in academics also started to get affected. I would often look back at the time when my life was more balanced with equal share of academic excellence, social activities and the familial love that surrounded me all the time. Retrospection made things even worse. Everything that had once seemed so bright and sunny appeared in shades of grey. As the work pressure started to increase even more, I would often keep to myself and not ask for help, even when I required it desperately. Although I was trying my best to improve my academic performance, I would miserably fail in my attempts most of the times, often requiring a lot of time to recuperate from the shock.
Finally, the end of the semester arrived and it was time to go back home. It was around that time that I realised how attached I had become to this place and the people. In spite of the a few bad experiences that I had faced, I still looked forward to the next semester! Over the vacations, I could think more clearly and surprisingly enough, I couldn't wait to come back! Introspection brought me to the conclusion that it was important to accept the situation I was in and find joys in little things of life. Also, now I believe I must strive to achieve the goals and dreams that I set for myself and as long as I do that, it will continue to inspire and motivate me. Past memories must only be looked at as enriching experiences. One must be focussed on his present so that he can create for himself, the future that he desires to achieve.
It is now a new year, a new semester and most importantly, a new perspective to life. I do not expect things to change overnight. But I do hope that I grow out of my own insecurities that hinder my development. I pray for guidance, courage and happiness in times yet to unfold. I realise that it is perfectly alright to fall, if you have the courage to get up again. A change in the attitude towards life, acceptance of things the way they are and believing in dreams is what life has taught me. I would not say that the road to achieving my dreams is perfectly smooth, but it is now a beautiful journey, with each day a reward in itself. Life will continue to have ups and downs, but the wisdom to make right choices and the ability to seek inspiration from everyday experiences will see me through all hardships.
