TIMING

I was recently stalking my own Facebook photos, going through pictures from almost a decade ago that showed me in various stages of my life. Some I remember vividly the moment it happened, some I have no recollection of and some was strangely so fresh in my mind that I could almost recall exactly what I was thinking of when the pictures were taken. I then proceeded to check out pictures of some of my newer friends, and it was amazing how their old pictures bared no resemblance to the person I know now.

And some pictures of me, perplexingly enough, showed a portrayal of me I could no longer relate to.

Everybody changes with time. Mostly better, sometimes worse, but we all go through this gradual evolution of personality, perceptions and perspectives. And with this slow change of phases that we go through, we also end up experiencing specific things at a specific time, or meeting specific people at a specific time. Here is a little experiment. Take one significant person that you just got to know in this present time, and imagine meeting them 5 years ago instead of today. Chances are, at that point of time, at that phase in both of your lives, your relationships would’ve been very, very different. Some may not have occurred at all.

Depending on how your philosophies are of life, you may think that these are all a string of super convenient coincidences, or in my case, that everything is strategically placed as part of the Big Plan. Because I believe in the latter, I always take to trust that everyone I meet, and everything that unfolds, occurs in that specific timing for a reason. Life is too miraculous to be just a factor of chances.

I think of the people I hold dear to my life today and I realise that it is due to this evolved version of me today. I probably would have never looked twice their way if I had met them even 3 years ago. On the contrary, I think about some of the things I loved doing 5 years ago, and they no longer give me joy or meaning today.

Realizing that everything that happens, feelings that are triggered, and people that you meet are all meant to occur at a specific timing today makes you re-evaluate your current life. Why are you in this position, loving this person, and capable of doing these things, today? Why today? Why is it happening at all? Knowing that these are not just chances, that these are gifts given to you today, will make you not take your blessings for granted. The blessings of a privileged life. Of your own growing perspective that is making you a better person. Of opportunities. Of having people in our lives we never thought we would ever have. Of having stability in this mad, mad world.
​
Indeed, there are so many things to be thankful for and treasured today.