Do what you want to do

A cousin of mine just finished her studies in the university. I congratulated her and I asked what she didn’t want to hear:
- And now what?
- It’s over. I studied enough. Now I want to do something else.
- Fine. But do what you want to do. Don’t forget this.

Then I stopped talking. I thought my voice resembled the voices of all people who like advising the others. I don’t believe in advising anyway. I prefer telling stories.

I don’t know what she ‘s going to do in the end. I think she doesn’t believe in herself enough. I wish I could show her why she must follow her heart and do what she wants to. For some people it’s impossible. I hope she’s not one of them.

We grow up with voices around us echoing we should make money and become successful. But how can this be done if we don’t love our profession? We don’t have the time and the resources to explore this life and realize what we really desire. We don’t have time to make mistakes and learn from them.

I have seen people turning into miserable creatures because they never followed their desires. They killed their dreams in order to satisfy the people around them, family, friends - you name it. While being a teacher I helped some of my students stop their studies and change their life. I believe it is one of the best things I have ever done.

When people love what they do, they do it well. They wake up each day with dozens of new ideas and dreams. They seize each day. The skies is their limit. And they are happy.

I realized what I want to do with my life when I was 28. Yes, for many people I was too old or immature and I should have decided earlier. Since then there hasn’t been a single day I resented my choice. And I would never exchange it with anything in this world.