Chasing Pavements

We all have dreams in our hearts. I am sure that we are all willing to do our best to attain that goal and to fulfill that dream. However, there will be days when it is so confusing. It is so confusing if God wants you to stop chasing that DREAM or he is testing you to be stronger.

There will be days that no matter how much you chase it, the chance just slips through you fingers. Making you feel that it is not for you. But still, being the resilient and the courageous person that you are, stopping is not an option.

It will be a cycle of trying and failing. Until we reach the point of exhaustion. Until we question ourselves if it is still worth it. If I am just wasting my time. I firmly believe that it is never wrong to question. It is never wrong to doubt. Because all of these are ways of reevaluating our goals and dreams. These are methods for us to device new ways to work on our goals. 

The pain of this process will also escalate when the people around us starts to meddle or to add insult to the wound. There will be questions such as 

"Tanda mo na ah, nagaaral ka pa rin?"

"Bakit di ka na lang mag abroad yayaman ka pa dun"

"Tumulong ka na sa pamilya mo, wag mo na sayangin oras mo jan"

"bakit hanggang ngayon staff ka pa rin? yung anak ng ninang mo manager na"

sounds familiar? Sounds bullshit.

These statements would sometimes shake us. Would make us think "wait, ano na nga ba ginagawa ko?". And it hurts. It will hurt 10 times more if it would come from the people you think would understand. Because to start with, they are our FAMILY. Are they our FAMILY? Because most of the time they don't function as they must.

There will be days when we wake up in the morning, wondering if we should continue what we are doing or just throw away everything and start anew. Lucky enough if we would be thinking that way because to self destruct is easier. To slack and to stagnate is easier. 

We would reach a point when we would say "tangina, ano ba. inaayos ko naman. Umeeffort naman ako ng sobra pero wala akong progress. Walang nangyayari. Yoko na, balakayojan". This is scary.

This chase is draining. The physical exhaustion can be managed. You can sleep and rest. But the emotional, mental and spiritual exhaustion is something that is not easy to address.

People, listen!

IT IS NEVER WRONG TO REST

IT IS NEVER WRONG TO FAIL

IT IS NEVER WRONG TO BE SLOWER IN REACHING DREAMS COMPARED TO OTHERS

IT IS NEVER WRONG TO DO YOU!

You know what is wrong? To throw away all the efforts and sacrifices that you have invested. Do you honestly believe that you just wasted your time? I don't think so. You have gained maturity from all the failures. You have gained patience from all the opportunities that slipped your grasp. You gained faith from all the days that you want to stop but you know that God will never put a dream in your heart if he would never give it to you. You have gained humility to accept that you have limitations. Lastly, you have gained the respect of the people around you. Because they can see that no matter how hard it is, you are still on your feet, with a smile.

Just like what the great British singer(Adele) said "Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements even if it leads no way, would it be a waste even if I knew my place, should I leave it there"

In one interview she said that this song was composed when she was confused and about to give up on her career. Because she felt that nothing was happening. But look at her now. A well renowned singer who was once confused if she should give up or keep on chasing that damn pavement. She banked from the sadness and converted it to something useful. She accepted her current situation. And from her acceptance she was able to produce something beautiful. 

Acceptance will make us even better in this battle. Because only with acceptance that we can open ourselves and allow the people who would help us in our chase enter. And with acceptance, we would finally see that we should not do it alone. We always need someone to help us.

Let's do it guys because we do not know how close we are to our dreams. It is always better to try than to forever wonder "what if I tried?"

Chase that pavement!

Be like Adele!