Memoir: Imagination

By: Anonymous submission

Campaign: Anything and Everything

#literature

A cup of warm coffee used to begin my morning, having a fossilized routine before another busy day; wake up, brush my teeth, wash my face, drink a glass of warm water. Back then, “Perfectionism” excellently described me as a person. I planned everything carefully, and any mistakes or unexpected events that didn’t follow my schedule made me feel upset. Sometimes, life presents us with the opportunity to change. When I entered college in my first year, my classmates did not have the same regular schedule as I did; when I started working, things got even harder for me, but slowly, I learned to relax… I would say the most significant change I’ve experienced growing up would be accepting being more flexible with myself. 

As a child, I used to picture my future a life where I would be close with my family, having regular family gatherings, and spending time getting along with my friends. In the depths of my heart, I’ve always carried the desire to help others around me, which has drawn me to activities that involve supporting, encouraging, and caring for others these days. Happiness spread out in every corner of my life. I realized, “Happiness doesn’t come from one specific thing; it’s about recognizing the value hidden in the little moments around us.” 

Those scattered, simple, and peaceful moments in my life quietly make me feel genuinely happy and grateful… No matter how others treat you, harshly or kindly, whether you like them or not, they might teach you lessons and make you learn to reflect on yourself. That’s why I believe I should always be grateful for anyone or anything that happens to me, because all of these experiences shape who we are and contribute to our success today. Looking back, I did feel a sense of powerlessness from my work. As part of my role, I have to face students, parents, and supervisors, doing my best to counsel, listen, and show empathy to them. Yet, there are moments when, no matter how hard I tried, sometimes the results still don’t turn out the way I hope–– leaving a quiet sense of powerlessness in my heart. 

I often tell people or students: “It’s fine to feel uncertain, but you have to be prepared for yourself. Getting any licenses or qualifications, something practical, even if you might not need it now, but one day, it becomes handy.” Lots of my students asked me about why I stayed in Taiwan instead of studying and working abroad. I would say it’s because I really love staying close to my family. Traveling, instead, was a way for me to explore and understand the world and learning from it. 

Plans can’t keep up with change. At first, I had planned to be a teacher for six to eight years, because teaching in school wasn’t something I had dreamed of, and I wasn’t particularly passionate about it in the beginning. However, as time went by, and somehow, I gradually discovered my passion for this job, with the encouragement of those around me… I realized that maybe this is exactly where I meant to be. 

Thinking back, when I first stepped into college, everything felt blurry and uncertain… I wasn’t sure which path I should take; every choice seemed exciting, mystifying, and frightening. What I needed to hear back then was to be myself. We got lost in our own lives, and that is the point to find your own traits and strengths, not to rush for the result. In this generation, where everything changes rapidly, we tend to follow the mainstream trend. “But does following the mainstream necessarily mean it’s the right or best thing to do?” I kept thinking to myself all the time. My answer would be “No.” Why would I need to follow the crowd? Not even astray from the wrong path. In the end, what matters most is learning to grow–– and become a better version of yourself.  

My life has taught me a lot: “By gentleness overcome hardness.” The word “gentle” echoes in my mind, to stay soft and kind toward the people around you, whether amid chaos, stay emotionally steady, and treat others around you with “Softness.” In which, what is the timing that makes you realize you are actually growing up? I assume that answering this question might be grinding for you as a teacher. When I see my parent aging, it hits me with a lot of feelings that I’ve grown up. Growing up means experiencing plenty of changes, which conveys the message of taking responsibility for my own life. After turning 18, little by little, the signs of adulthood began to show quietly, yet unmistakably. 

Ten years from now, my future feels uncertain. Sometimes, I try to control everything according to my expectations. Yet, life kept throwing unexpected things at me. Gradually, I think giving yourself some kind of imagination is integral. We never know what will happen the next day or in the future. As long as we are still living in this world, we should keep imagining and shaping what our future life will look like. 

Keep Exploring, Keep imagining, and Keep pursuing…

Chatting lively with my family and friends, laughter bubbled up the memories. I used to think about what my life would be like and how far my dreams could take me. Now, everything in my life feels perfectly aligned with each moment, memory, and experience that came as part of my current life. Reviewing the path I’ve taken, my life might not be exactly what I’ve imagined or expected, but all the happiness and disappointments that have appeared in my life have taught me to cherish every single moment. 

I can truthfully say– yes, this is the way I wanted my life to be.