No End To Our Roads
I like driving. No, correction -- I love driving. Especially on freeways. There's this power that comes over me whenever I take over the wheel and I step on the gas... and I escalade into the horizon. It's just me, the road and my destination (or perhaps the lack of one). It is when I'm one with the world and it is when I feel most at ease. Enter great music blasting from the car's CD players and I think I may have just had a glimpse of heaven.
Unfortunately, my stubborn quest for new things have led me to give up the luxury (and necessity) of driving. I eventually moved from a country possessing neverending roads and countless highways... to a city-state that thirsts for any road that allows the driver to go beyond 40 miles per hour. It's a trade off, however, as I've never been anywhere with a more efficient public transportation system. I had to give up something that I enjoy immensely (driving) in exchange for something else that's close to my heart (city living).
Living in the city can be overwhelming. You lose yourself to the daily hustle and bustle of activities and immerse yourself in the crowds of people with their own personal agendas in mind. You look everywhere and every person out in the streets seems to know exactly where they're going and what they want to do. There is no particular direction shared -- left, right, back, forward, center -- but it doesn't matter. There is no point following the pack. Just keep on going and you'll eventually get there. Wherever it may be.
As for driving, there is a general direction where you're headed. However, it doesn't always follow that you know where you're going. Aimless driving and blind hope that you'll eventually figure a destination out -- it's reckless and brave at the same time.
Funny enough, that's how I feel everyday. Not about where I live though, but more about what I'm living. I have a daily routine just like everyone else, I could imagine. I live and I work, and then some. It gets old though -- it's a vicious cycle of waking up and praying hard that the day will go without drastic glitches; of working to live and to survive; of looking forward to the end of the work day... only to wake up again the next morning to do everything all over again. I may seemingly have gotten my life down to a T but that may be the biggest fraud ever.
I trudge through life with no particular direction. I've got the basics covered but anything else beyond that is unknown. I'm not looking to settle down, I'm not looking to start procreating and giving life to beautiful children, I'm not looking to bag the career of the century, and neither am I looking to have a million dollars to my name by 30 (though that would be nice, admittedly). All I ask for is a direction as to where I'm going -- and what I'm working for. That would surely answer a lot of questions in my head. And it would shed light on murky thoughts and uncertainties.
Life can pretty much feel like a tattered beetle VW being driven onto a straight road with no exits and no turns -- and as you keep driving, you realize that you're actually back where you came from. You've been driving in circles. And until you muster up enough courage and energy, you will just keep on flirting with the idea of running to the nearest convenience store and getting a new map. And just like living in an impersonal city, it can be difficult when you realize that the bright lights surrounding you are nothing but artificial and manufactured -- and that in reality, it is only engineered to mask the growing darkness around you. One can't help but think: how long can the disguise sustain itself?
Sometimes it's easy forget that we're the drivers of our own lives. We get so caught up with little details that we tend to depend too much on cruise control -- and sometimes even on autopilot. We should be the ones taking control of it and not the other way around. After all, what good is it reaching a destination when the journey was crap?
I'm sick of wandering about and I'm through being Alice in Wonderland. I'm the king of my own road and I'm the ruler of my own city. Why on mother earth did I ever forget that?
I need that new map from the quickie mart around the corner.
Unfortunately, my stubborn quest for new things have led me to give up the luxury (and necessity) of driving. I eventually moved from a country possessing neverending roads and countless highways... to a city-state that thirsts for any road that allows the driver to go beyond 40 miles per hour. It's a trade off, however, as I've never been anywhere with a more efficient public transportation system. I had to give up something that I enjoy immensely (driving) in exchange for something else that's close to my heart (city living).
Living in the city can be overwhelming. You lose yourself to the daily hustle and bustle of activities and immerse yourself in the crowds of people with their own personal agendas in mind. You look everywhere and every person out in the streets seems to know exactly where they're going and what they want to do. There is no particular direction shared -- left, right, back, forward, center -- but it doesn't matter. There is no point following the pack. Just keep on going and you'll eventually get there. Wherever it may be.
As for driving, there is a general direction where you're headed. However, it doesn't always follow that you know where you're going. Aimless driving and blind hope that you'll eventually figure a destination out -- it's reckless and brave at the same time.
Funny enough, that's how I feel everyday. Not about where I live though, but more about what I'm living. I have a daily routine just like everyone else, I could imagine. I live and I work, and then some. It gets old though -- it's a vicious cycle of waking up and praying hard that the day will go without drastic glitches; of working to live and to survive; of looking forward to the end of the work day... only to wake up again the next morning to do everything all over again. I may seemingly have gotten my life down to a T but that may be the biggest fraud ever.
I trudge through life with no particular direction. I've got the basics covered but anything else beyond that is unknown. I'm not looking to settle down, I'm not looking to start procreating and giving life to beautiful children, I'm not looking to bag the career of the century, and neither am I looking to have a million dollars to my name by 30 (though that would be nice, admittedly). All I ask for is a direction as to where I'm going -- and what I'm working for. That would surely answer a lot of questions in my head. And it would shed light on murky thoughts and uncertainties.
Life can pretty much feel like a tattered beetle VW being driven onto a straight road with no exits and no turns -- and as you keep driving, you realize that you're actually back where you came from. You've been driving in circles. And until you muster up enough courage and energy, you will just keep on flirting with the idea of running to the nearest convenience store and getting a new map. And just like living in an impersonal city, it can be difficult when you realize that the bright lights surrounding you are nothing but artificial and manufactured -- and that in reality, it is only engineered to mask the growing darkness around you. One can't help but think: how long can the disguise sustain itself?
Sometimes it's easy forget that we're the drivers of our own lives. We get so caught up with little details that we tend to depend too much on cruise control -- and sometimes even on autopilot. We should be the ones taking control of it and not the other way around. After all, what good is it reaching a destination when the journey was crap?
I'm sick of wandering about and I'm through being Alice in Wonderland. I'm the king of my own road and I'm the ruler of my own city. Why on mother earth did I ever forget that?
I need that new map from the quickie mart around the corner.
posted by Princess Banter at
11:00 PM
7 Comments:
(Don't worry, this is the last communication you'll see from me).
If you are the king of your own road, and the ruler of your own city, why are you letting someone else dictate parts of your life?
Or, was it just an excuse?
Hmmm... But do you think we can be kings of our roads and not be influenced by anything or anyone, be it our family or loved ones? And, true! The cities have so much light to drive away the darkness that the world looks darker outside them. Guess we have got used to it though I'm not sure where this dependency will lead to. Do give your comments on the comments we write. I'd love to know your opinion! This is just a suggestion, though.
not all ppl(incl me) are good drivers. i mean drivers of life. just too many signals and cops on the road.
Hey guys -- I'm here to give alpine's suggestion a chance (thanks for that by the way *grin*)
Alpine - You're right, we cannot be truly independent when it comes to making decisions or whatnot. We take a lot of things into consideration such as priorities and other people who are important to us (like family). Ultimately though, it is our choice as to what/whom we prioritize. Choosing those take quite a bit of decision-making skills as well, methinks ;)
Arun - I guess that means we all (including me) have to try to develop the knack of strategically placing signals and cops in areas that we can take advantage of. After all, it's our road. We can do whatever we want with it. Then again, easier said than done...
As far as I am concern there are two things for sure in life ... a person is born and then die ... the rest is how to make the best out of that journey at every junction ... :)
To steal a platitude, it isn't the destination, but the journey. Sometimes we get red lights, sometimes there are diversions, sometimes detours and sometimes we end up at no through roads. We can choose the route, but sometimes it changes or we get lost. Hmm, that was taking the traffic analogy one step too far, yes?
hello princess...
hav read almost all ur posts in de last 2 days, dats wen i came across ur blog.u r a great philosopher!. i aint saying dat u hv evolved an independent line of philo , but u seem 2 hav a good grasp of thngs around.hardly do u expect 2 meet such a person n dis world where evry1 is vying wit anoter on being de most superficial. or mayb dey jst find it a whole lot easier 2 feign ignorance 2 de not so sweet truths & live n thier own comfy shells.
yeah, its time u get dat map 4 urself . ofcourse u don expect 2 b showed a map 2 reach ur destination . mayb u wld get a guide , de angels on heaven & earth , u once mentioned.
but u cld really use their help , only if u know wot u want & those wants neednt necessarily mean gettin married/ havn kids / career /money .
mayb its somthng so simple dat it eludes us.
heard abt 'happiness'?
whether v r aware of it or not , dats wot v r all hunting for, almost alwz n de wrong places.
i noe, u r not somebody wh wld need an advise.
glad 2 hv had a glance of dis beautiful mind.
wish u good luck in all endeavours!
pray dat u shall recieve wot u need from life.
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