“THE GREAT PERHAPS”

This topic has left a long-lasting impression on me after I finished the book “Looking for Alaska” written by John Green. This post, however, is not about the book, but about my random thoughts on “Seeking the Great Perhaps”.

Sometimes I just feel that the general youth can be divided into 2 main “types”: type 1:-“I want to live a secure life in which future is assured, so everything I do it must guarantee a satisfactory outcome”, and type 2- “I want to make each day a new horizon, I seek meaning in the unexpectedness of the following day, and when I am still young, I want to escape the comfort zone and dare try new things”

I believe either most of us belong to type 1, or we, at least, have been through that phase, when we think more for the future than for the present. I, too, have missed numerous opportunities just because of the inadequate confidence I had in myself, because I didn’t want to take risks.

So many people… will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

Chris McCandless in “INTO THE WILD” by Jon Krakauer

From my perspective, the Great Perhaps is much simpler than hitting the road into the wilderness or venturing oneself to Alaska alone to conquer a mountain. It should be as simple as trying new things, signing up for activities in fields you’ve never thought of, having an adventure of self-discovery, stepping out of your comfort zone and be radical, be passionate, be crazy. Do the things you like. If you like culture, go to cultural-rich areas. If you like singing, why not perform despite your fears of flaws? If you want to blog, then blog without considering criticism of your writing. The Great Perhaps is possibilities, the consequences of your choice, your actions. It is when you live for an unpredictable future- but even if how variously the future changes after each of your choice, it is still a future full of your individuality.

I go to seek a Great Perhaps. I go to seek myself. I go to live to the full extent, because I know this is the only life I will have. I dare do this, I dare do that, because it will add a new color to my life, and I want my life to be colorful, blooming. I can take on challenges.( Can the challenge in which successful outcome is assured be ever called challenge? ) I want to be me. I am willing to sacrifice to achieve.

The two basic ideals of a modern man- without them he is unthinkable- the idea of free personality and the idea of life as sacrifice.

Boris Pasternak- “DOCTOR ZHIVAGO”

I don’t know why I am so occupied with the phrase “Great Perhaps”. Maybe it’s because, without the Great Perhaps, without an escape from the inclination for monotonous security, what is the meaning of life? What does the only life you have yield, spiritually and physically?