Thank you everyone for taking the time to wish me a peaceful journey and sending love and hugs my way. I feel your love!
I am sorry though that I was unsuccessful in changing even 1 young person's mind to hang in there and give life a second chance, to find inner strength and confidence in yourself to continue on, even if you don't have anyone in your corner cheering for you. There is so much to see in the world.
Some things that did help me get through thus far-
1) Independent thinking- our schools and universities are geared towards cramming and getting good grades. They don't teach young kids how to think or how to think out of the box. I learned lot more by not following the herd.
2) Developing self confidence- I was very shy, aloof and self conscious about my looks, weak body, thick glasses, bad skin etc when I was a kid. Knowing this I deliberately made an effort to change the things I didn't like about myself. Too weak? I went to the gym, got more involved in sports. Mind you I learned various sports as an adult, 29- 35 yrs old, which is not an easy thing to do. I learned everything from martial arts, boxing, weight lifting, scuba, ice skating, roller blading, horseback riding, hiking etc. I started hiking and backpacking at age of 54 yrs! As I mentioned in my first post, I took it upon myself to learn one new thing every year. Painting, cooking .. you name it! If I can do it, so can you! I'm no more special than you. With every activity I learned, not only did I change myself, my body but I gained more knowledge and confidence in myself, enough to be able to carry on through life's travails all alone. Today, I am no longer shy or aloof. I can confidently talk to any strangers I meet in all my travels.
3) Belief in oneself- people will grind you down with negativity. Don't listen to most people who criticize you all the time and also don't listen to most who praise you all the time. Neither extremes are true. Listen to those who are balanced and provide only constructive feedback. Ignore others. That was something I didn't do when I was young. I was too sensitive and it cost me. One needs to develop a thick skin in life. Don't sweat the small stuff and don't take everything to heart. Don't hang around people who pull you down. Try to hang around people who inspire you, who are better than you and who will bring out the best in you.
4) Fortitude: You will fail in life, a lot! Everyone does. Use it as a learning moment and carry on. Learning from one's mistakes is the single best thing you will do, which will lead to success eventually. Observe how many successful people failed in their lives and still went on to achieve their goals eventually. Most famous case is Steve Jobs. He was fired from Apple and later made a spectacular comeback. History is littered with such examples. So don't give up at first fall you take.
5) Perseverance- goes hand in hand with fortitude.
There is so much more I wish I could tell you. Best thing one can do is observe successful people on life. Figure out what makes them so and work on developing those qualities and skills. Just because one doesn't have them to start with doesn't mean one cannot develop them over the years. People can change. Key is one has to want to change, to learn to develop into the best we can be. Change takes time, that is why you must hang on and give it some time. I can guarantee you at 19 or 20 you know nothing, even though you might think you do. Heck, I used to bristle at old peeps telling me the same when I was younger, thinking what the heck do they know when they can't even change the freakin' clock on the microwave, which is still blinking at 12:00! But guess what? I was wrong. I see it now. I knew NOTHING back then. Wisdom comes with age, from all struggles, mistakes, failures, successes, heartbreaks etc.
Truth be told, I think even 60 yrs is too young to call it quits. If I hadn't done everything I wanted in life already or if I had dependants/ family, I would carry on, even if every day was a struggle. But now for me travel is a chore more than excitement. I have become blasé to new things I see because I say oh I already seen that at such and such place and it was even better! For me it is a case of been there, done that, I know this, I know that already. If you cannot say that then you must give yourself the chance to find out!
Also, at 60 yrs my body no longer does what I need it to do. The only thing I have to look forward to is the high probability of developing a horrible disease and with no one to take care of me I would be lying in a hospital or hospice all alone. That isn't something I want; it goes against my character. Hence, I am bidding adieu to the world on a high note, on my terms. But for you all young kids, assuming no physical challenges, if you are quitting because life is too hard, because school, college is too hard, if job is too hard, or your heart is broken from failed relationship, then I implore you to think again. As earth shattering and big a deal all that seems to you now, in big scheme of life, it is not! These things are not immutable. They are fixable if you change your perspective. Perception is reality in life.
If just one person on this forum heeds what I am saying, hangs on and gives life their best shot, that would make me enormously happy! Either way, I thank you all for taking the time to read my post and sending me such warm wishes for my long journey! Love and peace to all.
Hello,
Please read my latest post, #20 on this thread. I really hope you give it some serious thought. The option to CTB will be there 10, 20 yrs from now. Decide if you truly gave life your best shot. Look around you- majority of people do not live rich and privileged lives. Yet, even a simple life can be a happy life. Heck, even rich people don't have it all together. It is an illusion. If they did would there be so many celebrities killing themselves? Whitney Houston, Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade... the list goes on. The secret to happy life is not riches, power etc. In my travels I have encountered people with absolutely simple life who were quite happy and had flourishing families.
Determine what things make you happy, or will make you happy and then go on achieving them, even if you have to do it all alone. Change things about yourself that need changing. When you do achieve success, it will be all the more sweeter because you did it all on your own, against all odds!
Good luck to you. I wish you all the best. Is there anything I can say that might help you to hang on till you are my age? I don't have all the answers but I may have some.
