Chapter 12. How life works: A Trade-off

Quoting a sentence from Zhafira Aqyla, "Our story ended the way it was written in the stars," reminded me of how life will work for us. Convinced by this sentence, it is enough to relieve us and stay calm in a fast-paced society. Contradictably, we would have exaggerated it and blamed the condition if a couple of events happened because we couldn't change it. After all, we will lose something, and yet we will gain something simultaneously. And one word that can best define it is "trade-off." Here, I will wrap up my thoughts through this short post!

Personal illustration

1. It is always hard to choose between what you have loved and what you think is better for yourself. 

I had this moment when I was in the Philippines. After half a year of living in a completely foreign environment and experiencing a plethora of new experiences, both sweet and unpleasant, I couldn't help but say goodbye and leave Los Banos forever. I'd fallen in love with the LB environment, as we call it. Supportive seniors and unforgettable memories in every corner of LB. I just didn't feel prepared to return and face the reality that awaited me. In the midst of my longing, my senior once told me, more or less like this, "It is normal to have such a feeling where you don't want to leave a specific life or place. This feeling will soon disappear as you come to a new place. It will be the same no matter where you belong. So don't attach the feeling too much."

There is always a wonderful thing lurking behind what we think will not work out! Rather than arguing that we should get out of our comfort zone, we should say that we need to expand our comfort zone. And I intend to do so. There are so many things to do in this world; without limiting ourselves, we need to keep exploring new things and living our best lives. Remember that making a decision is only the first step to success!

2. We must decide and take responsibility. Risk always comes with every decision. 

One step closer to adulthood is making decisions we never regret. Taking a risk is frequently related to youth spirit, as we never limit anything. Keeping our responsibilities, on the other hand, is at another level. We must commit to our choice once we have made it and never look at it again. Back then, I had to choose between two alternatives in the final year of my undergraduate degree. One of them is to stay and complete my final thesis or to pursue other chances that may delay my graduation. But I chose the second one! Because I believe that if risks come to it, then it might be something that will change my future!

3. We would only know which decision is better if we lived it. 

We made a rational decision, understood the risks associated with it, and subsequently came to the third conclusion: just enjoy. We'd only know if we tried. Every decision has a consequence, regardless of right or wrong. After a few years, we will realize that our decision is the best we have ever made or not. Nobody knows! But personally, of the decisions I have made so far, there is not a single one that I regret. I am confident that our story has ended precisely as it was written in the stars, just like the process of making a decision in our lives.

After all, life is about trading. We will lose something to get something even better. We need to replace what we think doesn't bring us any good anymore. Just go forward and take any reasonable lessons from it.