Parents want what’s best for us but drowning your kids with your aspirations won’t do anyone any good. I’m 23 this year and my dad still tries to get me to work with him at the hospital, meet a doctor who can be my future husband, and live a good life.
Working at the hospital isn’t the problem. I highly respect everyone who works there. You’re dedicating your time and effort into saving lives.
The issue is the constant nagging of what I should do with my life.
Your friend’s daughter is the same age as me, is married to a lawyer and has 3 kids? Well, good for her.
- Don’t work for a small (startup); start finding a job in a big company.
- Stop playing around. It’s time to settle down
Those are the two topics of discussion at the dinner table.
Writing Is Not A Career
I’ve told my dad multiple times that I’m pursuing an online writing career.
“That cannot make money,” he would reply. And it’s not only from him. Almost everyone around us would doubt this career path.
In M’s Words’ article, she shared about breaking others’ expectation of you.
In today’s world, we’re always trying to live up to the expectations of others or even oneself. Since young, we’ve always been told to do and what not to do; which “path” we should take, and many other ideologies that worked for them. Hence the idea of living up to those expectations have been deeply programmed in your brain.
What’s The Lifestyle I Want To Live
For one, not getting married to a man just because my dad wants me to. My love life is mine to cherish and will not be determined by anyone’s influence. It’s sad to see some people forced into a marriage they hate. If we are to spend the rest of lives with that one special person, shouldn’t it be our choice?
Freedom lifestyle
Now, if you’re going to tell me that I’m such a millennial for wanting this… you’re probably right. Also, it means that us, millennials, wants more in life than working 72 hours a week chasing money and only enjoying it at old age.
I want to take my writing over the horizon and not be tied to any given country. Singapore will always be my home but there are much more places to explore.
Multiple income streams
Spend all my time working for one company (that isn’t mine to own) or spend my time creating multiple income streams? Of course, I’d choose not to have all my eggs in one basket.
Yes, a good, reputable, big company offers medical benefit and steady income. But remember, business is business. If it’s time to make a “strategic business” move, you are an expendable asset.
I’d rather be happy doing what I love
I might not be driving the best car or living in the biggest house for now. But that’s okay. I’m happy to be getting paid to write.
I’ve worked different jobs but nothing offers as much satisfaction and happiness as writing. Do you understand the joy of waking up and doing what you love to do?
So, are we wrong for wanting to live a different path from what we were taught? Even if this path offers happiness, freedom and money?
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A version of this post was previously published on Medium and is republished here with permission from the author.
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Photo credit: Mesut Kaya on Unsplash