Taking a walk through life

Chaos all around me, making it difficult to find my place in the web of people. Shopping can be pleasant when you know what you want… or have a ton of money. However, we rarely are aware of the marketing strategies that are in place to guide our customer journey and influence our buying ideas.

So, here I am, in this ‘giant, well-known brand, furniture store’, finding myself on the same path as tens of people walking in this already defined cycle that takes us through all the products available. So I walk and walk… and keep walking some more, only to realize that I’m on the wrong floor. So, now I find myself HAVING to go through this already thought-out labyrinth of chairs and tables. Of course, sometimes there’s a shortcut, but it still seems never-ending.

And the first ‘glass-half-empty’ thought that comes into my mind is how this, unfortunately, is a very good analogy to all the cycles we unconsciously follow in life. Especially in this era of control, I’ve become obsessed with the idea that life is composed of smaller cycles put together; Primary school, elementary school, high school, job, (retirement - a brief period of freedom), grave. If you look at life like this, each action becomes common. And so it makes more sense to break the pattern and live in the present, enjoying each moment and not caring about any cycle, right? (which I realize now how nihilistic it sounds). And as I’m walking and thinking this to myself, my eyes nonchalantly stumble upon some boxes with a cunning design. Aside from the fact that I considered buying the boxes, which would’ve meant me falling into their advertising trap (which I did not, thank you very much!), I then finalized my thought from earlier. So, I stopped, took my phone out, in the middle of these busy bees which I refused to be a part of any longer, and wrote the following:

“Everything HAS to be a cycle, to have a beginning and an ending, otherwise we wouldn’t see a purpose to live, otherwise we would feel stuck. And, throughout this cycle, we become distracted by things that catch our eye and we begin new cycles yet again.“

Because without structure, humankind would live in havoc. Cycles imply purpose and order. You start something and then you take all the necessary steps for the desired outcome to be achieved.

The biggest cycle is life. You are born - you die. Then come the smaller cycles. And, without having a negative view on this either, the cycle represents in itself a journey, still. And I don't think anyone travels because they can't wait to get back home (As soon as you're out the door: "can't wait to get back into you, sweet home sweet!"). It is only fair to assume that something that you encounter on one journey can lead to your next journey - or cycle.

The question to be posed in the end is this one: when do we let ourselves sidetracked into beginning new cycles and when do we stick to the ones we’re currently in? No matter the parameters you use to answer this question for yourself, one thing is certain: you are always in control of your cycle (life). So choose your own.

However…

Don’t ever be afraid to break the cycle. And, hey, who’s to say you can’t look at it like it’s a game?

Break the cycle