THE PLAY OF LIFE

 

Imagine waking up one morning, and instead of your usual routine, you find yourself on stage, bright lights blinding your vision. You're in the middle of a grand play with no script, no directions, and definitely no clue what scene you're in. Sounds chaotic, right? But when you think about it, isn’t that what life feels like sometimes?

From the day we’re born, we’re tossed onto this stage called life—and without a single rehearsal! We start playing roles, whether we’re ready or not. First, we’re the "adorable child," then the "awkward teenager" who’s convinced the world is out to embarrass us, and then maybe the "serious student," and who knows what comes next?

But here's the twist: unlike actors, we don’t get to choose our scenes. Life throws us surprises, plot twists, and sometimes even bloopers we never saw coming. Think about it—have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re like, 'Wait, is this really happening?'—like you’re a part of some sort of comedy sketch?

However, there's also a certain beauty to it: life’s unpredictability is what makes the show so interesting. Imagine if you knew exactly what was going to happen next—every moment scripted. Where’s the fun in that? Life, just like theater, thrives on spontaneity. Yes, sometimes that spontaneity makes us trip up. But haven’t you noticed how it’s the stumbles that create the best stories later?

Think about the different roles you play every day. One moment, you're the "responsible friend," offering advice like some wise sage. Next, you're the "overwhelmed student," drowning in assignments and thinking, "Why did I sign up for this again?" And then there’s the "dreamer," imagining all the amazing things you’ll do when the school bell rings, and you’re free to chase those big ambitions.

Playing through this role of life, we often neglect to stop and ask ourselves, Am I enjoying this performance? Am I owning my role or just going through the motions?

But here’s a thought: what if we stopped focusing so much on playing our roles "perfectly"? What if, instead of stressing over being the "perfect student," the "ideal friend," or the "flawless leader," we just focused on being real? Because, let’s face it, even in the best plays, there’s no such thing as a flawless performance. There are always little mistakes, forgotten lines, and maybe a few awkward pauses. But that’s what makes it authentic, right?

So why do we expect life to be any different? Why do we feel the need to get everything right all the time? The truth is, the most memorable moments in life come from our imperfect performances. It’s when we mess up, when we laugh at ourselves, and when we learn from our mistakes that we truly grow.

At the end of the day, we may all be "merely players," but we get to decide what kind of show we want to be part of. And while we don’t control every scene or every twist in the plot, we control how we react. So, what’s your next move going to be? Will you take center stage, or will you let fear keep you in the wings?

The world is your stage, and the beauty is, you don’t need to follow a script. So, when the curtain closes on today’s scene, ask yourself: Did I play my part authentically? Did I bring joy to the people around me? Did I have fun along the way? If you can say yes to that, then no matter what role you’re in, you’ve already given a brilliant performance.

Ahmed Farooq XI O B