You Only Have One Life. Live It to the Fullest for Yourself.
Your time on Earth is your most precious asset. Make sure you use it wisely.
“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
— Confucius
In my spare time, I occasionally read famous quotes from people of the past, but also from the present. There are more and more sites with quotes, and once I start, I can spend an hour or two without any problem.
Going from quote to quote, I sometimes discover or rediscover quotes that stand out for me.
This is what happened to me the other day when I came across this quote attributed to Confucius. I take the precaution of writing attributed to Confucius because generally, you will realize that many of the quotes attributed to him are not his. These are called apocryphal quotes.
This does not change the essential message that is conveyed by the quote.
In the first part of your life, you will most likely spend some time living trying to please others. When it comes to choosing a career, you will try to make a decision that pleases your parents. Some parents put so much pressure on their parents to choose a career that it is ridiculous I must say.
Later on, you will make choices based on what your circle of close friends will think of you.
In the workplace, you will act with the opinions of others constantly in mind. You would like to do certain things, but fear of the constant judgment of others will prevent you from doing so.
Without you even realizing it, you will be living a life that is not yours, but rather the one that others want you to live. Your choices are always guided by what others may think of you, so you will never be free to live your life on your own terms.
Stuck in this vicious circle, you will most likely never achieve the contentment that should be the goal of us all. I'm not talking about being happy all the time, but rather being fulfilled in your life by accepting its ups and downs. The main thing is that what you experience is the result of your own choices and not what others have imposed on you through their constant pressure.
At this point, you can fall more or less low morally. Some people become depressed. This period of life can happen more quickly for some than for others. We are all different after all.
When this happens, you will have to make a choice. This choice is embodied in the Confucian quote I presented at the beginning of this text. It will mean ending your first life by understanding that you must live your life as you wish.
You will then enter a new era: the one where you move forward in life for yourself and not for others. The one where you will enjoy every moment because you never know how much time you have left on Earth.
You have only one life and you must therefore savor it fully according to your desires. This does not mean not respecting others. It simply means respecting yourself first. How can you respect others if you are not able to respect yourself by making your own choices?
The key is within you. When you are ready, the sooner the better, you will be able to truly take control of your life and change your destiny for the better forever. Those who take control of their own lives always end up achieving contentment. That's all the happiness I wish you.