The domino effect of life

Have you ever wondered why something happens, why you are at a certain place at a particular time with a specific person? I have no doubt that many of us have pondered these questions at some stage, if they like to admit it.

Most things will not make sense at first but when the next phase reveals itself, the reason why the previous one took place will become crystal clear. And sometimes this process can take years to understand as a few more links need to be able to connect before the penny can drop, but in the end, as Steve Jobs mentioned, the dots will always connect looking backwards.

Just glancing at my own life, every decision I have made, every step I have taken, and every relationship I have ever been involved in, business-wise, friendship-based or romantically has contributed to where I am now and how I see the world today. Although some decisions I made did not land me in the most favorable situations – that is for sure - although I learned a lot from these experiences, while other choices most definitely catapulted me into bind-blowing opportunities. 

Here below are a few of my life-links that connect and paint the picture of my life journey. Just like dominoes, the second one could not have toppled without the first piece.

If I never got a scooter, I would have never had a bad accident, leaving me in a coma for quite some time. If this unfortunate mishap had not happened, I would never have known what it feels like to come very close to not having all my senses to experience life the way it looks like today. Moreover, I would probably not have been obsessed with travelling nor been as eager to discover alternative lifestyles, different cultures and contrasting philosophies. Without my hunger for learning, I would not have landed in the aviation industry where travelling and change is the norm. This lifestyle taught me to adapt quickly, think on my feet and not to get attached to anything or anyone. Over that time span I had the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of people from all walks of life. I also learned the meaning of gratitude on a much deeper level; being confronted with individuals who were stuck, some geographically, others in the prisons of their own mind. Observing their behaviour intrigued me a lot, it sparked my curiosity and started my truth seeking journey for how the mind works. From there I went on to live in different countries truly experiencing what it means to immerse oneself in other cultures. Most people take a 30-day Contiki tour and claim they have seen the world  - this makes me laugh - they might have seen a glimpse, but certainly not how life unfolds on a daily basis. It was a true privilege to be able to soak up every bit of the culture and the way of thinking and living. Only by being in the midst of the get-up-and-go can one come to comprehend why people think and act in a certain fashion.

I made the choice to connect with particular people. I also discovered that some of them were not who I thought they were. Consequently, I learned to set boundaries for myself and others. I also discovered that, although I am a person with integrity, it is more than acceptable to change your mind if respect is no longer served. As the saying goes: ‘We meet people for a reason, a season or a lifetime’. Nothing is less true. Everyone who I crossed paths with has taught me something. I met amazing role models, and some people I just met briefly, however they impacted my life and contributed tremendous value just by saying one thing, leaving me deep in thought to explore a different point of view. On the other hand, I allowed others to royally overstay their welcome. These were all life lessons.

So, over the years, with more experience under my belt I had a clear vision of what I wanted my life to look like, the vibes I wanted to attract and the people I wanted to surround myself with. I also understood that it is perfectly fine to say ’no’ as that action alone allows you to say ‘yes’ to the things you actually want to do. Life is not about pleasing others. It is an exchange of energy to help each other grow and live life to our full potential.

The way your life looks like today is based on the decisions you have made over the past 5 to 10 years. If you are not happy with what you see, there is good news: you can change it, simply by taking different decisions. 

Really, change is just one decision away.

And on a last note, remember and really remember that you will always make the decisions based on the knowledge you have at that point in time, and that is just fine. This was also the case for your parents and educators, so there is no reason for blame; they did the best they could with what they knew at the time. 

There is no such thing as failure, there is only feedback. As long as our intention is positive and pure, all will be well in the end – Everything is connected!