A boy, who used to be,
How society grew him up,
But transformed into man,
He always meant to be.
~Ali Dad
I remember my roommate, the tubby boy. He is rich now, or in other words, successful. I remember when he was trying to find meaning in his life. He used to tell me, “To find meaning in something, you must find everything else meaningless”.
He had to travel more often to his hometown. In an inexpensive twenty-hour journey to a small town of South Asia, the traveler is obliged to take care of his belongings too. Soon, he discovered, the best trips are the ones with the least stuff carried out. Therefore, he used to keep only a wallet and a cellphone on his tours. He did not find meaning in possessing stuff he did not need.
He was an outcast because seemingly he was neither well-off nor resourceful yet he kept progressing in life. The truth turned up to him that career growth is a by-product of determination and consistency. The universe helps those who work hard. He did not find meaning in developing personal relations for career advancement.
The boy with a dream in a metropolitan city was helpless at times. No guidance. No support. No motivation. He believed that helplessness is a blessing, a fortune, and divine. It introduced him to his self-esteem. Therefore, he made journalling a friend. A friend who does not judge does not tell lies and does not give up on him. A friend, who wants him to improve, gives reality checks and loves him for who he is. He did not find meaning in what people think and how things work?
One true self is expressed when apparently no one is watching. He found his truth in loneliness. His flaws. His interests. His character. He escaped the comparison prison of appearance and impression. Isolation brought him freedom. He did not find meaning in trying to impress people.
He used to tell me, “A change of heart is greater than any paradigm shift or a new mindset“. Paradigm and mindset base upon fact and information but a change of heart is always inside out. He discovered, a higher purpose accelerates growth faster than a self-centered desire. A change of heart happened to him. He found meaning in helping people. In guiding. In supporting. He turned into man, he always meant to be.
