Let Life Surprise You

"There is nothing confusing in life. Everything is straightforward. Except for life itself. It could grant you the world in one minute and take it away from you the next." —Anonymous

This quote is especially true when we think about the deeper meaning of life. Life is like a whirlwind of contrasts—uncertain, full of surprises, and temporary. There is no single correct interpretation of life; people craft their own unique and seamless understandings daily. And each of those meanings contains its own truth. 

But one thing often confuses people—including me: how brief and sudden life's connections can be. And despite how short they are, their impact remains as long as we live. They indirectly define our worth and personality to others. 

It is uncanny—and often a challenge— to understand it. I have thought about this several times and each time, I arrive at a new perspective. Yet, there is one analogy that remains unchanged: 

Life is like a road.

Not a spiral. Not a circle (that represents the very cycle of life consisting of birth and death). But straight as a line. On this road, each car represents someone in your life. Sometimes, the road is busy and packed; other times it is serene and almost empty. Cars come and go— just as people do. It all depends upon the moment. 

Many think that life is defined by the number of connections they have. That is partially true, but it's not the entire story. Think about this:

There are countless roads in the world. Some, like the Silk Road, are well-traveled, while others— like local neighborhood streets— are not. Now, regardless of its popularity or the number of cars that use it, does that define the road's usefulness? If a road is less traveled on, does that imply that it is useless? Of course not. It simply means that people are unfamiliar with it. 

Similarly, the number of connections you have in life do not determine your self-worth. If you have many people in your life, that is great. But if you don't, that doesn't mean you are less worthy. It just means that people are not familiar with you yet. So don't lose hope. 

Regardless of how many people you have alongside you, remember: life is temporary. It ends before you know it. So, open yourself to new experiences— before you reach a dead end. You could have the world in your palm one minute and be in the world's palm the next. So, let it surprise you— not scare you from living.