I saw this prompt earlier this morning while I was trying to mentally escape a boring lecture. It worked somewhat because for the rest of class all I could think about was what everyone should know.
As my thoughts drifted, my first idea was the obvious, semantic information. This includes knowledge like chemistry, math, physics and more. But you don’t necessarily NEED to know higher level science and math, I guess. Even if you do, it’s most likely going to change/update as more inventions and discoveries are made. Then, you won’t really know it much and will need to learn new stuff again.
From there, my thoughts went to universal truths that we always talk about rarely ever actually achieve such as, “we should know how to live our life to the fullest!” Whatever that means. The thing with universal/philosophical sayings like that is that nobody really knows how to get there because it’s not applicable to everyone in the same way. “Living life to the fullest” can mean many different things. Consider how someone at the age of 20 who’s grown up in a high socioeconomic status would take that phrase versus an immigrant or refugee who’s barely made ends meet for most of their life. One may take that saying very light-heartedly while the other won’t.
In fact, they’re not even applicable to ONE person the same way because everyone is constantly growing and changing. You and I are not the same people from yesterday. We will be different again tomorrow.
Something I believe that everyone should know is that nothing is permanent. I mean this in the most uplifting way possible: pain and sadness are temporary and things always get better with time. That being said, even the best moments are temporary. As a college student, I’m constantly experiencing the highs and lows of life. I’ve learned that everything changes: our friends, partners, classes, our physical body, and even our goals and values.
It can be terrifying to think about constant change, but I also believe that it’s a bit comforting and freeing.
Could you imaging having to choose permanence for your whole life? Things that you cared about at the age of five would still be what you cared about today… I know I wouldn’t like that. As someone who loves growing and learning new things everyday, I feel like a stagnant life would actually be very dull. So, we should all learn to invite change rather than resist it. Besides, the only constant in life is change itself.
Anyway, I’m grateful that on a day where I have the time (and motivation) to finally write it was a great prompt!
Till next time,
Moesha.
SASS 