We travel through this world for an indeterminate time. We never know when it will be our day to leave even if we are seemingly healthy. Life happens and so does death and while its fine to do everything possible to continue to be healthy and vigorous there has to be more to our existence than merely existing. There are some things that should not be set aside for a another time while we walk in place just making it through another day. None of us are guaranteed another minute much less days, weeks or years. We’ve all witnessed the passing of a child, a teen a one hundred year old man. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we might truly say that each of them had been the authors of their own stories?

I read about King Charles of England stepping back for a time while he takes treatment for cancer. Others will step up for his duties. I could not help thinking that he had stood in the wings waiting for his moment on the stage for three quarters of a century. He marked time and shattered his life and the lives of others as he attempted to please everyone but himself for much of that journey. In the process he hurt people by living as he thought he should be rather than living as he wanted to be. When we deny our instincts and our talents we allow ourselves to live someone else’s dreams and often end up turning the lives of the people around us into nightmares as well. 

I have always appreciated parents who allowed their children to develop as they instinctively knew they should. As each of us grows in wisdom, age and grace we somehow realize what our story should be. If we are fortunate we will have opportunities to find ways to use our passions and our talents just as we wish. We will make choices that enrich us with joy rather than worldly goods. We will look at ourselves in the mirror and be able to smile at what we have become or are in the process of becoming. Being masters of our own fate is the greatest gift we might give ourselves but often we become victims of other peoples wishes rather than our own. Society has a way of sending loud signals about how it believes we should live. 

There are many forms of genius and most of them are not reserved to being a master of the STEM vocations. We too often measure people’s worth through standardized tests, wealth and possessions rather than the level of their happiness. We celebrate the person who rises to power but rarely see that sometimes the happy person who has minimal possessions may in fact be the more content of the two. How can we possibly place value on a person who lives each day with joy by being the master of his/her fate?

I smile when I see a family filled with people who are each writing their own stories. I celebrate the parents who somehow understand how important it is to not only allow but to encourage their children to develop their individual passions, whatever they may be. None of us should spend most of our lives waiting for the moment that makes us feel accomplishment and joy. Each step of our journey should lead us to opportunities to be ourselves. 

Of course we are often limited in our choices by circumstance. Sometimes our stories are propelled forward more by where we happen to be born than by equal opportunities. Poverty of freedom or lifestyle can limit the progress of our dreams and yet we hear of souls who find the courage to overcome such things. 

A friend of mine grew up in a small village in Africa. He was curious and bright from the earliest days of his childhood. By the time that he was in high school he was fascinated by the idea of becoming an engineer. He took time to determine what he must do to reach that goal only to learn that he would need to study physics to be accepted into an engineering college. Sadly there was no one in his school or his village capable enough to teach such a class. 

My friend is an enterprising soul and always has been. He heard of a man who lived in another town who had once been a Physics teacher. He walked to the man’s home, knocked on his door, and explained that he was looking for someone who might be willing to teach him Physics. The old teacher was stunned and immediately explained that he no longer had time to be a teacher. He had retired to a farm that needed tending. There was too much work to be done. He was sorry but he would not be able to help my friend. 

Because my friend is the author of his life, he was not dissuaded by the rejection. He suggested to the old teacher that payment for instruction in Physics should come in the form of labor. My friend agreed to perform the needed tasks in exchange for the education that he desired. The old teacher agreed and my friend learned physics and eventually became an engineer. 

It is never too early or too late to begin writing your own story. You know better than anyone what gives you joy. Don’t wait in the wings for your moment to come. Do what brings you joy. Find ways around barriers. Happiness will follow you and when all is said and done that is what each of us seeks. Never be afraid to be yourself even if others don’t quite understand you. Life is beautiful when we become the authors of our stories.