Tragedy

There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it. -George Bernard Shaw

Do you ever get that rush when you're doing something you love to do, and you know right then that you'd gladly die without any regrets, doing what you love at that precise moment? Or if you achieve something by yourself, and know that in a way it's made you complete? They always say, life's not about what you do, but who you are, but in some way, doesn't what you do make you who you are, with all the right and wrong reasons taken into account?

It's a really scary thought, lying there on your deathbed, and having more regrets to think about than things you're proud of. I wish I had spent more time with my family, I wish I had spent more time doing what I really love to do, I wish I had been more honest, I wish I had been a better friend, I wish I hadn't messed things up, I wish I hadn't walked away, I wish I had taken the chance, I wish, I wish, I wish...but the ache never goes away.

Every time I hear about someone who chased after their dreams, like joined a band, or went on to play some sport professionally, or who gave up their life to become a writer or teacher, or fought for love, I feel really happy for them. Sure, not everyone makes it to the top, most don't even get close, but they can't lie there on their deathbed wishing they had taken the jump.

In today's world, most people care about money, and less about doing something they love to do, or even discovering what they love to do. Most people die not knowing what they love to do, and it's really sad. I guess at a practical level, it's a necessity to give up certain things in your life, playing it safe, it's a part of natural selection. It makes me sad nonetheless, because giving it up is like cutting a part of yourself and discarding it. Is living through life without that part of you really worth it?

Everyone dreams, and over time, dreams change with circumstances. As a student in high school, you aspire to be the guitarist in a famous rock band, as parent you dream of the world being a better place so you can raise your kids in peace, and as a businessman you dream of starting up a business that'll really go places. And throughout life, everyone dreams of true love, whether it may just be chemicals in the brain, or something real, no one wants to die alone. Those who get unconditional true love may be the luckiest of them all.

I say, maybe with material things, you can call it a tragedy to gain your heart's desire, but if it's much more than that, then is it really a tragedy? And so what if it is? I say, give me tragedies, for what is life without them? After all, the fact that you tried is what really counts, right? Not trying is a tragedy worse than that of success or failure.