I'm okay now About the past And I'm okay With life becoming A fill-in-the-blank question Filling it in again I will fill in myself
When I started writing this article, this song kept playing in my head (kidding), though the original song is about choosing in relationships, constantly becoming a fill-in-the-blank, with the final answer always being "fill in yourself." Actually, that's what life is like. When we're lost and don't know where to go, when we're unsure whether to follow someone else's advice, it reflects our desire to find a "standard answer" that meets others' expectations, thereby changing our own thoughts.
But actually, life has no standard answer — your choice is the answer.
Recently, a friend was discussing with me how to make choices about the future. From others' perspectives, we might feel sorry for them, having persisted in something for so long only to give it up halfway. Some support it, some oppose it, some ask them to weigh their options. But life has never been a straight path — there are many unexpected events that interweave into our lives. Sometimes, these things become far more important than what we once wanted.
Or perhaps we must first give up one thing to complete another important matter, then return to our original plan. It's simply taking a longer route in life. If you work hard but no one has yet seen your talent, never give up. Takuya Senda, who once worked at a renowned consulting firm, frequently interacts with professionals from various industries. After actually interviewing over 10,000 office workers and 3,300 mid-to-senior level managers, he concluded: "A person's life is a circuitous competition. Only those willing to take the long road can achieve success!"
Consider this scenario: a fresh college graduate competing for the same position as someone with three years of work experience. For the college graduate, this job might simply be about accumulating experience. But for someone with work experience who wants to return to an entry-level position, it's because they've clarified in those three years what they truly want, and are willing to set aside their past experience to "start over." Such a life choice may face external pressure, but if you can endure and overcome all difficulties, and ultimately find your own path, what grows is yourself.
Beyond the workplace, facing all of life's big and small decisions — whether to get married, whether to buy a house, or whether to return to school for further studies — we similarly "have choices." Many people fear making decisions because they worry about making mistakes or life taking a "wrong turn," but friend, you only live once. No matter the outcome, there is no standard answer, but once you make a choice, that becomes your answer.
