First Lesson
There are no random events in life and all individuals and experiences are connected in some way.
I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. The purpose of our struggles, challenges, pains or suffering may not be clear to us early on, especially during the times we are experiencing these, but I trust that all will be well in due time. These events we may need to go through to teach us a valuable lesson in life today, that may save us from further, greater pains in the future. Time will show what the purpose is for these pains, and in due time we'd know the reason for some pains or failures.
Allow me to share this story. A few years back, I applied for a front-line role with my last company. I was applying for a specific voice consumer account in a contact center but was told that I do not meet the required technical skills for that position. The talent acquisition personnel then recommended an open role for an email/backoffice business account.
I was hesitant to even process my application, since my previous and only background is with a voice account, and a consumer one for that matter. I told the interviewer that the role is something totally unfamiliar, and I'm afraid I may not have the required skillset for this.
He assured me that the screening process in place can determine if I am fit for the role. And so, with much hesitation, I proceeded with the application.
This turned out to be the highlight of my corporate career.
In summary, I got hired, was promoted to a supervisory role in less than a year, then to a managerial role a year after that. I got to work with the best people in the industry, with clients who is easy to love working with. This also proved to be a great training ground for myself.
The account I initially was applying for? It actually got pulled out two years after I joined the company.
Some may say that we see things we wanted to see. This may be true, this also validates what type of thoughts we allow ourselves to dwell on, which ones we chooses to believe. So long as you don't see things that aren't actually there, I think you're ok.
Everything happens for a reason. Let time reveal what these reasons are.
Second Lesson
Sacrifices, both big and small, are important.
Oftentimes, we tend to be quantitative- how much did you earn? How big is the party? How many friends do you have?
This may be good in some aspects, like quantifying returns on a specific investment for example, but definitely does not apply to sacrifices.
Sacrifice is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
the act of giving up something that you want to keep especially in order to get or do something else or to help someone
Sometimes we would hear people say, I'm sorry this is all I can give,.. which somehow demotes the greatness of the act.
Think about this- Donor A gives $100,000 out of his billion-dollar networth to help in a charitable cause. Donor B gives $1000 out of his $5000 monthly income, and a networth of $50,000.
Of course we sing praises and accolades to Donor A, after all this money can tap a great number of beneficiaries.
But we need to put the same, if not greater value to Donor B's act, too.
To sacrifice is to give up something from yourself, for the benefit of others. Each and every act should be recognized.
Third Lesson
Hatred is a deadly weapon, "We think it attacks the person we hate, but hatred has a curved blade, it also attacks us".
I'm one who easily forgive. My thoughts- whatever others do negatively towards me is on them. How I react is on me.
I can choose to hate. But hatred, I think, impacts the bearer of this strongly negative trait, more than it does on the actual object of hate. 'Tis something that will clutter and blur the heart, and a heavy heart is never pleasant.
Hate is a poison.
Fourth Lesson
Love is never lost in death, it just moves on and takes a different form.
Love is a strong emotion that cannot simply be turned off. Once felt, even death cannot help us unlove a person. It may mellow through time, but is rarely fully-erased.
Love can be in many different forms.
Fifth Lesson
Every life has a purpose.
There will be times when we may question the why to our existence.
Every life has a purpose and has a role to play, in my opinion. The exciting and intriguing part is that we may not know all of these reasons. You may have helped change the lives of people for the better, yet have zero knowledge on this.
Take comfort to the fact that everyone has a role. Yours, theirs, our lives have purpose.
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