20
MetroVanIndependent.com
August 2015
lifestyle/entertainment
Success is not impossible
By Jackie Diy
Life is like a wheel where we sometimes
find ourselves on top, and at times at the
bottom. As they say, it has its ups and
downs.
I’d like to always look at the positive
messages that one discerns each day from
a thought, a passage or an incident which
are meant to encourage us to keep trying
even if we fail numerous times. This also
means never give up even if people have
turned their backs on us and to keep going
no matter how rocky the road is. This is
because life shouldn’t end on a sad note.
We become stronger with every problem
and we validate our convictions as we
resolve these problems.
Success never comes easy. It is
a product of hard work, skill, talent,
perseverance, and respect for others in
the least. All of these values put together
in the face of opportunity give you a great
chance at success, because real success
should never be short-lived. Hence, we
need these values to keep our foundations
strong and keep us grounded. After all,
success is not our end goal – happiness
is; and happiness is not having everything
you want. It is making the most of what
you have and being content with the result.
It is for this reason that we should not
compare ourselves with others if only to
make us feel insufficient or incapable.
Each one of us has our own unique
circumstances by which we survive;
and our success is measured not by the
success of others, but by how we lived
inspite of these circumstances.
We are not really all born equal because
there are those who are born to wealth and
influence. This alone tells us that some are
born with the opportunities already waiting
while others count years to even find one
great opportunity or create one.
This is why we celebrate hard work
and achievement and why we should
always appreciate even the littlest of
achievements.
For example, a child born with
deformities who is finally able to hold a
glass by himself will feel ecstatic and truly
proud of himself as much as a trained figure
skater when she or he wins the Olympics.
I’d rate the success of each person at
both 100%. The person who used to roam
the streets as a drug-dependent who has
changed, and now serves the community
as a volunteer, clearing the city of garbage,
etc., is worth every respect as much as an
actress who wins an Oscar.
So when we measure success, we
take into consideration the surrounding
circumstances and the relative degree of
difficulty with which the obstacles were
overcome.
And, when we are faced with difficulty
or frustration, let us not look at what others
have achieved and be distraught. Let us
take inspiration from them because they
have had their own obstacles to handle.
Instead, let us look at our own goals
while remembering where we came from,
and let us be content with what we have
because as long as we have a dream, we
are capable, and nothing should stop us
from achieving. The easiest of goals would
be to ‘want to be better than who we were
yesterday’ and that alone is a positive step
towards success.
Let us celebrate the future for whatever
it holds knowing that we can learn from our
past. We are the masters of our fate.
Let us aim to think well of others and
do good deeds. Let’s all look forward to
achieving as we follow our own paths
towards our destiny while being happy for
those that tread their own paths.
If we see anyone who stumbles or is
left behind, let us pause… look back, take
them by the hand, and lift them up. At the
end of our journey, we ask ourselves: What
have I done for myself and for others?
Have a beautiful summer everyone.
Let us continue to spread kindness and
compassion by saying at least one good
word for someone each day.
Let us begin today.
A performing arts mentor and public
speaker, Jackie is a mentor in creative
drama, film, dance, theatre arts, and
stage performance. Jackie was trained in
Drama and Theatre Arts at the University
of the Philippines, Diliman and holds a BSC
degree in Business Management from the
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.
Ethan David wins big at 2015 WCOPA
Twelve-year-old Ethan David from
Surrey, B.C. is still celebrating with his
family after a big landslide win in the 2015
World Championship of Performing Arts.
David won several gold medals in the many
categories that he joined.