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Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Vincent Van Gogh.
What do they have in common? First of all, they clearly used the right side of their brain more dominantly. Secondly, they are known to have lived miserable lives. Why?
Well, probably because of the same fact that made them great: they used the right side of their brains more dominantly. They foregone common logic; little, minute details; and setting real, tangible goals. They were, for the most part, subjective, rather than objective. They were creative, not always productive; intuitive rather than rational; and random rather than sequential.
Why am I telling you this?
Because recently, I took a quiz on Facebook, and discovered that I too use the right-side of my brain more dominantly.
Why is this important? Because this little piece of information made me realize a great deal about myself.
It has been more than a year since I graduated and I am still unemployed in the basic sense of the word. Sure, I am currently working as a columnist for Edge; I am a DJ for 105.9 Mix FM, and I do freelance copy writing, hosting and performing (with my band, Walnut Avenue), but in the truest sense of the word, I am unemployed.
Since graduating I have turned down many job opportunities, for one reason or another. Last month though, I was offered a great position in a prestigious, multi-national company. Of course, “great” and “prestigious”, being descriptions the common man would use to describe the position and company. However, the company, or the work that would have been asked from me if and when I decided to join the company, was not my cup of tea, and would have probably served as the perfect distraction from the things I love doing.
Looking back, if I had gone through with my application for the said company, I would probably now have my own car, my own rented studio apartment, my own everyday itinerary, my own set of ties and dress shirts, my own high-tech cell phone, and my own taste of proper employment.
But I turned the offer down (much to the dismay of my parents, friends, and even acquaintances). Why? Because like Da Vinci, Einstein and Van Gogh, I too used my right brain.
Sure, I would have all those material things and bragging rights for working in a multi-national company, but what I wouldn't have was happiness. Foolish as it may seem to other people, I did not regret my decision.
If I took that job, I wouldn’t have this column. I would not be able to touch, teach, guide and inspire the people of my generation. I wouldn't have the chance to share my talents the best way I know how. I wouldn’t get paid to have fun.
So just like all the greats before me, I forgot logic, tangible goals, and conforming to society’s standards; I chose the road less traveled.
I do not regret turning down the offer, not a little, not a bit, not with any part of my system (although people always tell me I should). I do not regret following my heart, because somehow, someway, I know something good, something GREAT is in store for me. Right now, I do not know what it is, or when it will come, i just know that it will, and 'til then I will keep on trusting that the Big Guy above will give it to me.
However, I understand why people feel that my life is empty, pointless. I do not live up to society’s standards. I do not make money, I do not have a car, heck, I do not even have cell phone load, half the time, but I am content. I am happy.
I like my life, I like being able to touch people's lives with just a phrase, I like being able to do what I really want, I like having the courage to do what I feel is right.
And it made me realize, maybe we got it all wrong. Maybe Van Gogh, Da Vinci and Einstein didn’t really live miserable lives; maybe society just thought they were. Because I understand what they feel, I understand what they have gone through.
We are actually happy with the stuff we put out in the world at large. It is society that is unhappy about the way we live our lives, it is society that tells us that we should be miserable because we do not have anything, and it is society that puts too much pressure on us to do what most people do: live generic corporate lives.
But I am not like most people, and my dear reader, you probably aren't too. So please give yourself a break and relax. Do not believe them when they say the opportunities you let go were such a waste, do not believe them when they say the proper thing to do is to accept any job offer that comes along, although it may get tempting at times. Do not believe them when they say happiness is equivalent to a perfect girlfriend or boyfriend, a 6-digit pay check and your own wheels.
I know it is job-hunting season, and you feel the pressure to land a job right away, and maybe you should, if you believe that is what you want. But if you believe that you were made to do something else, then by all means, take your time until you find what it is you truly want to do.
The world will not wait for you, but you can wait until your time of greatness comes. And trust me, it will come, it always does. Ask Van Gogh, Da Vinci and Einstein. Their times of greatness may have come a little bit too late, but it came. You are great, dear reader, know it, own it, and live up to it.
Not conforming to the standards society has set does not make you any less of an individual. It puts you up in the ranks of all the greats.
Happiness is doing what your truly want, no matter what the world says. And when you have realized this, you will have reached Partyphile nirvana: the place where the only thing you need (to have a truly great party) is Your own company.
