Daily Cascade

On Aspirations and Determination

Prompt:
"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."
Fred DeVito
Do you agree with Mr. Devito? Do you consider yourself a focused person or should I say a determined person when it comes to fulfilling your aspirations?

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Yes, I guess I agree with him that most anything has to do with determination. But if, right this minute, I wanted to fly to Alpha Centauri, it wouldn't be possible, would it, no matter how determined I may be? So, within reason, yes determination is the key to making things happen.

As to the second part of the question, I do try to keep my focus intact, but sometimes, it is not possible due to extenuating circumstances. My really long-term aspirations are no more because I'm old. Still, I do work on new projects, even if I may have to leave them unfinished.

So, the real question becomes if I really fulfilled all my aspirations throughout my life. I'll have to say 'no' to that because of extenuating circumstances, and not only such circumstances but the choices I made that were different from the earlier choices and aspirations, due to changes in my life or in my environment. I, however, always replaced one aspiration--one I couldn't reach or decided to abandon for any reason--with another possibly more important one.

I know I'm not the only one, here. In most lives, aspirations change due to personal growth and evolution, while perspectives also change, making old goals irrelevant. In any case, changes in family situations, moving, and other incidences defined or redefined what was more important to me.

Plus, I had to readjust my career path to such situations. I did find new avenues of interest and different opportunities, but I am not sure if they could or did replace my original aspirations. Would I make the same choices I made today, given the same circumstances? My answer is definitely, yes. This is because, in my case, and I'm quite sure in many others' cases, circumstances and other life twists must have had a huge role in following our original dreams and aspirations.

I think when all is said and done, it is healthy to let go of old dreams and embrace new directions, rather than viewing the old aspirations as failures. Who knows. maybe during going after new aspirations helps us to understand our own core values and enables us to focus on meaningful lives.