The life I wish to live

Several times on the radio, I have listened to an Icelandic song with a captivating melody and intriguing lyrics that delve into the protagonist's aspirations.

The song is very heartfelt and beautifully performed. What struck me was how the lyrics depict the singer dreaming of simple things like starting a family, enjoying a camping trip with a shrimp sandwich and coconut milk, swimming, and discussing politics.

The song and its lyrics have a refreshing and grounded quality, almost as if they were crafted to bring a sense of calm to those who listen. The objectives mentioned in the text are humble enough to be attainable without much difficulty, and the poem critiques the constant rush and pressure to achieve greatness or outdo others. Instead, the person in the song desires things that are within reach for most people during their lifetime.

I must confess that I am guilty of envisioning a grand and fulfilling life. Sometimes, when I consider the possibility of not achieving all of my dreams, it causes me anxiety and stress. At times, I feel like a failure for not realizing all my dreams or worry that it may be too late to accomplish what I had set out to do by now.

Not only does this result in unnecessary frustration for me, but it also impedes my capacity to value what I already have. I tend to think that my contentment depends on achieving these desires. As a result, I am preoccupied with reaching these objectives rather than acknowledging the positive elements of my life, such as owning my apartment, having a supportive family and friends, enjoying enough personal time, and being healthy.

Reflecting on it, I realize a specific desire is driving my aspirations: to see and experience something that enables me to perceive things from a new angle. Travelling the world has been a long-standing ambition of mine to satisfy that desire.

Nevertheless, that is not the only way to achieve that goal; cultivating curiosity about your immediate environment is another way, akin to children exploring the world with wonder and excitement.

While I'm not suggesting that I'm prepared to abandon my ambitious dreams, perhaps life could be less complicated if I established smaller, more attainable goals, such as taking a daily walk, maintaining a reasonably healthy diet, and enjoying sushi and wine occasionally.

Deciding to enjoy little things, such as unwinding with Netflix, connecting with people, visiting a café, basking in the sun, exploring the country, and sampling new eateries. Practising daily meditation, acquiring new knowledge and continuously improving my self-awareness. That is the life that I wish to live.