Live A Little

Let me begin by wishing you peace, prosperity and good health in this New Year!

Amidst all the chaos of the New Year and COVID-19, I wanted to write about something completely irrelevant.

About 5 years back I met a fascinating person at my cousin’s wedding here in Sri Lanka who reminded me of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout in Jules Verne’s ‘Around the world in 80 Days’. She was an Australian girl who was not more than 25 years of age. She was on a solo trip around the world. She had already been to 3 countries then and came to SL for the wedding and was planning to travel to many other countries afterwards. Unlike in the novel, this girl was neither driven by a reward nor a time limit.  What fascinated me more about her was how she funded herself for this great adventure! She had quit her job, sold her car and her house! And she didn’t have any idea what she wanted to do after her return. But she was living her dream.

Now, if this happened in Sri Lanka, the situation would be very hard to comprehend. There will be many people stopping you, doubting you, discouraging you. I understand there would be so many concerns and risks if you didn’t take a very calculated decision. But what I admired about this girl was her courage and determination to live her dream. And ultimately, she can say that she truly LIVED life.

We on the other hand, are leading very mechanical lives. We are supposed to pass our exams, get a degree by ‘this’ age, get a job by ‘this’ age, get married by ‘this’ age, have kids by ‘this’ age, educate them, marry them off and make sure they too complete this same cycle in the exact manner or even, better. While on this ‘rat-race’ we often forget to live our life. I’m not saying we need to quit our jobs or sell our houses to have a little fun. In the midst of this race we are allowed to take some time off. Cause nobody is scoring you. So, pause and take a breath. Travel, climb mountains, roam around cities, meet new people, gaze at the stars, swim in the ocean, camp outdoors, or even GET A TATTOO! If that’s what you love to do.

We’re ultimately on this Earth for a little time. Our lives would be in vain if we had not made the best out of it. Enjoy life so that you will have no regrets in the end. Don’t get driven by other’s opinions, let your dreams drive you! And after several years, I got to know, the Australian girl had met the love of her life in Nepal, on her solo trip. And is now married and settled down in Australia. Just like a fairy tale, I know! 😍

Live A Little.

- Dimagi Pitawala
  Faculty of Agriculture