24-hour party pooper (break time! read this!)

24-Hour Party Poopers
WHIPPER SNAPPER By Francesca Ayala
The Philippine STAR 11/10/2006

"The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it." – Harry Emerson Fosdick

It's funny how ambition metamorphoses with age. At the age of six, just about anything seems possible, from becoming an astronaut to turning into a fairy princess. By the time grade school draws to an end, only the dreams deemed feasible by rational thinking and social acceptance run a close second to simply being "grownup." By the time high school rolls in, any semblance of ambition is placed at high risk, taking a backseat to awkwardness, conformity, indifference, acquiescence, angst and all the conflicting sentiments that stem from adolescence. College then becomes a tug-of-war battle to reconcile reckless freedom with inevitable responsibility. Enough to handle for a lifetime? No, not really. Because after all that comes the real world.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the youth are one of the most economically productive age groups in society. Unfortunately, they now comprise 44.5 percent of the world's unemployed. With sparse opportunities provided by the labor market, those blessed with undergraduate degrees, raw talent and enough drive to take their shot are lucky just to get a decent toehold in their industry of choice. Ambition is only half the battle. The motivation to follow through is what sets the pace for its fulfillment. Those of us driven enough (and who do not have or shun the luxury of riding on the coattails of family connections) fight with all we're made of for that toehold to become an open door. Working overtime turns into routine. Taking on other side jobs becomes necessary. After-work cocktails turn into a means of self-preservation. Six hours of sleep are a luxury. The possibilities that once seemed limitless suddenly become boxed in by an impossible amount of conditions, some impenetrable even by Renaissance men and corporate MacGyvers. That being said, is it possible at all to maintain a healthy level of sanity for overachievers? 20, 20, 24 Hours To Go...

If you choose to lead a life that relentlessly pushes you to the limits, you'd better be certain you have the stomach for it. If not, you could easily find yourself face-planting into your mom's adobo at the dinner table, napping at inappropriate locations (like the bar) and growing horribly ill from all the fatigue. Worst of all, you could compromise the quality of your work. And you'll find that those who ruthlessly talk about you are the ones with not many accomplishments under their belts. Kawawa naman ang bobo. They can't help that, though, can they?

Some people justify a jam-packed schedule and all the trappings that come with it because they simply cannot sit still without any task to accomplish. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be productive, especially since many of us in our 20's are struggling to escape the "slacker" stigma (which hangs on after college whether we like it or not) and at the same time, utilize the full extent of our capabilities to get one step closer to the good life. What we don't realize is that sometimes, striving for success is like trying to get into the VIP room of a club. Your merit can open door after door 'til you're finally in, but how long is it before you realize you've had too much free champagne and there's no one left in there to make sure you get home all right? We Could Have A Few Decent Days And Nights…

The road to success is a tricky path to take. It's tough to constantly push yourself to new limits if you forget that you also have to set new boundaries in return. If you can hack it, there's nothing wrong with being ambitious. When people have the chance to make it at all, it's understandable that they put all their time and effort into making the most of opportunities. With all the aptitude and enthusiasm, what's to stop someone from doing the very best they can? Then again, by that same rationale, no one else lives your life for you.

There's a lot people sacrifice to get where they want to be. Whether it's their time, health, money, or even dignity, sometimes ambition is a very dangerous game. The good players are not the ones who win at any expense. The good players are the ones who know that the occasional face plant, bar nap and head cold are clear signals that it's time to take it easy.

To succeed in life, you can't take it all too seriously. Churning out as many activities as you can in a 24-hour span won't do any good if you don't have fun doing it. If you must make a mistake, at least have a laugh before you move on. Winston Churchill said that "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." The guy made a pretty good point. It's good to be driven. It's great to succeed. But no one's perfect. When driven by too much ambition, people grow confined to it. With too much focus on "making it big," they forget that the possibilities are still boundless. They grow old before they're even finished being young. Sure, it's good to do well. But that's not the be-all and end-all of it. Ask yourselves, what good is making it to the VIP room anyway if you don't like the music? Think about it. If you feel you're on the right track, very well then. We shall dance.