Dont Follow Pied Piper

I asked myself this question, when I was 16 years old (I am still 16 ;-),U know), What do I want to become in Life?
The answers came immediately flowing to me all at once. I wanted to become a biologist, a musician or a writer. This may sound absurd to the reader, because none of the three fields are related. But then these were the things that liked doing, rather enjoyed doing and things in which I knew I would shine. You could either call it the sublime confidence of the youth or whatever but I clearly knew what I wanted. My dream was alive and kicking, clear and intact.

When we move forward by 7 years and peep into my life and see what had happened of me, it turned out to be that I became a software engineer. Not a biologist, not a musician, not a writer. But Why?? Why I am not living my dream? Why I am sitting in front of the monitor and scratching my head, when my entire system is screaming against me to get out from here? Why am I not doing what I was meant to do?

When I tried to answer the unending Why’s that crept up, there were quite a few answers. One of the obvious reasons, of course, was because a software job is lucrative. IT Pays, u know. Many thousands are lured into the IT Maze because of the money tag attached to it. No doubt, IT definitely pays better than many other sectors. When financial liabilities and family commitments loom like a specter ahead of us, any person would obviously choose the lucrative offer, instead of going ahead and following their hearts. It was the same with me I guess. I don't really have an answer. I stepped into this career at the cost of all my dreams. At the cost of myself.

If we think of other situations, there are few others for whom working in an IT Company becomes a social status symbol.Anything less than that is not acceptable. The parents drill this thought into their children right from childhood. Getting into a software firm is made their lifetime ambition and anything other than that is taboo. but why?? I can't answer this you know :-).
Finally, there are people whose dream itself was to get into IT. I guess these people,I should say , are the lucky ones.

So What I am trying to say? I am just about to get into it. Am I saying nobody should get into IT? of course not (after all its my bread and butter). I want to insist on the fact that we should do what we are meant to do. If you don’t know yet, slap your head further and think, one day you’ll know it. Your heart will lead you to it. Once you identify your interest, slowly and steadily get out of your current career to your heart’s yearning. When you are being paid for what you enjoy doing, it could be the best thing that can happen to anybody. The amount of satisfaction and happiness that you derive from it would be incredible and unimaginable.

I know this idea may sound a bit too whimsical and totally unrealistic. Its easier said, Than done. I know. But, then Friends, it is very much do-able. With a little bit of grit and determination it can be done. Set up a timeline for yourselves. Try to do away with all your commitments within that stipulated time. It might take years but then in the end,Get free and get going in the road that you refused to take when you were at the crossroads of your life. Let me quote a dialogue from the scent of a woman, here:

“Now I have come to
the crossroads in my life.
I always knew
what the right path was.
Without exception, I knew,
but I never took it.
You know why ?
It was too damn hard.”

Yes, In the beginning I am sure it would be tough, but in the end, you would find something that you have always coveted for. Even if there are thousand people barring you on your journey, in the end they will know that you were right and they were wrong. Again, I want to quote from a tamil movie song,
“Iruttiniley nee nadakkayile un nizhalum unnai vittu vilagi vidum
Nee matum thaan intha ulagathiley unakku thunai endru therinthirukkum”

Take Care of yourself because nobody else knows you better than you. Just be patient till the time comes and do not do something just because everybody else is doing it.
All the rats followed Pied Piper.
What happened to them in the end?
They all drowned in the Weser river.
The rat race has begun already. If you are one of those rats, Hey! Hey! Wake up to reality! Do you want to drown? Its up to each of us to decide.