My name is Paul. I'm a medical doctor. I find it interesting to treat people and be a hero to many. But I'm really not as happy and satisfied with my life as most people would expect. I grew up in a family so strict that it provided no room for argument or refusal when the final authority (my father) had spoken. His word was law and anyone who disagreed became a traitor and was treated with as much disdain as is possible at any given time. Punishments ranged from serious canning, to starvation and incisions. My mother who would have intervened was very timid. She was easily intimidated and even got to bear the brunt of most of our actions. She ended up on the receiving end of all his anger since according to him we got all our bad behaviour from her. He already arranged our destinies. Mine and my two siblings. Being the eldest, I was to be a doctor, My sister a lawyer and my youngest brother an engineer. We offered no argument even as he sounded it into our ears every passing day and pushed us to take all the classes we never wanted.
I watched with pain as my sister's musical inclinations were thwarted and my brother's painting abilities squashed. I loved to write. So i could easily disguise my writing as something medically related and not get caught. My sister and brother gave up their dreams to satisfy my father and escape the heart wrenching punishment that came with disobedience. Yes we excelled in our fields because even if we were pushed into it, we were also pushed to succeed if not for anything but to obtain our freedom.
My siblings and I were brought even closer because of the terrible childhood we had to endure. We had no friends, my father called them distractions. We were more or less hermits, on exile by our own blood. Now that we've grown up, weve each followed our different paths. Though old habits die hard, my sister Ara sings and plays the guitar freely even if its just to keep her kids entertained and my brother's paintings just went on an exhibition. I find it difficult to write most times because of the pain I feel each time I remember I could have been happier writing all my life. But i get a thrill from having someone get well from my help as a doctor. So i guess I have my dad to thank for that. I'm still trying to get along with my notepad.
It should not surprise you to say we were all relieved when my dad died. My childhood at least had a closure. My mother followed shortly after as she could not be without her backbone. My siblings and I gave them a proper send off. As we celebrated our revolution.
You might be wondering why we didn't do anything earlier, well blame it on our respect for our parents or you could blame it on our cowardice by we still got good education and didn't lose out on our passions in the end.
As I write this I look at my own son, born to me 5 years ago by my lovely wife. I wonder what his future holds. Definitely not anything like my bitter childhood or my painful experiences. I'll give an arm for him to do whatever makes him happy. Same goes for you reading this. You deserve to be happy. Follow your dreams, your passions. You'll be happier. But then be wise. Count the costs and give it whatever it takes as you alone holds the key to your happiness. Well, I'm on call and my beeper just went off. A life needs to be saved in the hospital.
Thank you for reading. Don't forget to drop your comments and suggestions. Till we meet again next week. You deserve to be happy. Follow your dream, tour passions, you will be happier. But then be wise.
