ONION
An onion is a widely cultivated vegetable. Onions add texture and flavor to foods, either complementing it as the base of a soup, a rice or noodle dish, or whether they are used as a main ingredient. Onions can have a spicy perk-me-up taste if eaten raw in a salad, or they may be very soft and sweet when caramelized and have turned a beautiful golden brown. I enjoy onions either raw or cooked but, it wasn't always that way. When I was younger, onions were not of any interest to me but, as I got older my taste for onions have matured. Lately, I have given up red meat but I can surely remember those grilled burgers in a summer evening grill out, with among other condiments, a fresh crispy slice of raw onion, and, washing it down with a Presidente. More recently, I enjoy cooking arroz con pollo, which is a Cuban dish consisting of yellow rice and chicken with one of the ingredients being caramelized onions. But, enough of the onion as it relates to food. My article is how metaphorically speaking, an onion is similar to life.
You see, life is not necessarily an easy ride through a prairie. Life is really what you decide life is going to be. Carl Sandburg stated," Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep." Isn't that true? The way I look at it is, that life can be hard at times. You will never live a stress free, calm life. That is not realistic. That is not part of the program of life. You will always have problems to deal with or as I prefer to refer to them as "issues". The only time that you will be worry free in life is when you have physically departed this plane This is why cemeteries are so peaceful. Life truly is like an onion. The more you live, the more you understand life in general. The layers of an onion can be akin to the stages of life. Similar to life, you will hit some rough roads that will surely make you weep. There will be times in life where you feel defeated or that you have failed. But, I am here to tell you that just because you feel that you have failed, it does not mean that you are a failure. The way I look at it is that a failed experience just shows that you are doing what you are supposed to do in life which is, to live. In living you will have somethings that may be considered failed projects but they really should be looked as learning experiences for the next time. And the fear of failure seems to be a common denominator.
We all have fears that in many cases will prevent us from reaching our true potential. This is part of the unexpressed contract we have with life. There are countless examples of individuals "going for broke." In other words, just letting loose. We see this across all fields from science, athletics, academia, business etc... I guarantee you a basketball players will never score a basket if they don't take the shot. A baseball player will never hit a homerun if he doesn't swing the bat. Speakers will never get their stories out if they do not speak to a crowd. A women will never experience the love of a child if she questions her ability to parent. CEO's will never take the company to the next level if they are afraid of failing etc... In fact, I would not want a surgeon operating on me if they are afraid of making a mistake. There are many individuals that are just simply afraid to live. What else is there if you are so afraid to live that you can't reach your potential? What is the worst case scenario if you let loose and it didn't work out the way you wanted it? It's not like life is asking you to walk through a volcano. So you may lose some money or maybe all your money for the time being. But, you can always earn more money. What you will never get is more time. You see, life does not give you a do over. When your time is up, it's over. Did you know that Walt Disney despite being one of the most influential people of the 20th century endured many failed projects before creating "the happiest place on earth." He failed at acting, went bankrupt and failed at several business ventures. However, he is the epitome of living a life the way it is supposed to be lived. He just let loose and kept on going. Fear was not part of his nomenclature. Most individuals would rather take the easy path in life believing their lives will be easier but, I believe that by taking the easy path your life will ultimately be harder. I leave you with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Just a thought.
You see, life is not necessarily an easy ride through a prairie. Life is really what you decide life is going to be. Carl Sandburg stated," Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep." Isn't that true? The way I look at it is, that life can be hard at times. You will never live a stress free, calm life. That is not realistic. That is not part of the program of life. You will always have problems to deal with or as I prefer to refer to them as "issues". The only time that you will be worry free in life is when you have physically departed this plane This is why cemeteries are so peaceful. Life truly is like an onion. The more you live, the more you understand life in general. The layers of an onion can be akin to the stages of life. Similar to life, you will hit some rough roads that will surely make you weep. There will be times in life where you feel defeated or that you have failed. But, I am here to tell you that just because you feel that you have failed, it does not mean that you are a failure. The way I look at it is that a failed experience just shows that you are doing what you are supposed to do in life which is, to live. In living you will have somethings that may be considered failed projects but they really should be looked as learning experiences for the next time. And the fear of failure seems to be a common denominator.
We all have fears that in many cases will prevent us from reaching our true potential. This is part of the unexpressed contract we have with life. There are countless examples of individuals "going for broke." In other words, just letting loose. We see this across all fields from science, athletics, academia, business etc... I guarantee you a basketball players will never score a basket if they don't take the shot. A baseball player will never hit a homerun if he doesn't swing the bat. Speakers will never get their stories out if they do not speak to a crowd. A women will never experience the love of a child if she questions her ability to parent. CEO's will never take the company to the next level if they are afraid of failing etc... In fact, I would not want a surgeon operating on me if they are afraid of making a mistake. There are many individuals that are just simply afraid to live. What else is there if you are so afraid to live that you can't reach your potential? What is the worst case scenario if you let loose and it didn't work out the way you wanted it? It's not like life is asking you to walk through a volcano. So you may lose some money or maybe all your money for the time being. But, you can always earn more money. What you will never get is more time. You see, life does not give you a do over. When your time is up, it's over. Did you know that Walt Disney despite being one of the most influential people of the 20th century endured many failed projects before creating "the happiest place on earth." He failed at acting, went bankrupt and failed at several business ventures. However, he is the epitome of living a life the way it is supposed to be lived. He just let loose and kept on going. Fear was not part of his nomenclature. Most individuals would rather take the easy path in life believing their lives will be easier but, I believe that by taking the easy path your life will ultimately be harder. I leave you with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Just a thought.